•WlTiTitf 





Copyright}!?.. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



18 12 




A TALE of 
CAPE COD 



By Michael Fitzgerald 



YARMOUTHPORT, MASS.: 

C. W. SWIFT, Publisher and Printer, 

The "Register" Press, 

1912. 



.Ft 



Copyright, 1912, by 
Charles W. . Swift. 



SCIA327065 



I 

) 



TO 
THOMAS CHANDLER THACHER, 
A LOYAL SON OF CAPE COD, 

THIS VOLUME 
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 



V 



PREFACE. 

In this story of Cape Cod during the War of 1812 the author 
has essayed to give an accurate picture of some of the trials 
which the harassed inhabitants endured under the guns of the 
British warships. 

The plight of Eastham in those days was that of many other 
towns on the Cape. The seafaring population of the district was 
utterly at the mercy of the enemy and all trade was at a stand- 
still in consequence of the embargo on commerce. Deserted by 
the National and State governments, the sturdy people bore their 
sufferings with heroic fortitude and stubbornly resisted the 
invasion of their shores, now meeting the arrogant foe in deadly 
combat and driving him to his boats, and again, successfully 
matching their wits against his might, capitulating only when 
further resistance appeared useless. 

The author has had the advantage of many years' residence 
in the district and the privilege and pleasure of close ac- 
quaintance with the descendants of some of the characters in this 
tale, and, as an interested student of local history and tradition, 
his researches have instilled him with intense admiration for the 
virile race that first settled on this historic ground and whose 
indomitable perseverance and success in the face of almost in- 
superable difficulties have won the applause of the world. 

"Old times have changed, old manners gone," but in the 



little towns of the Cape today the sons of this brave old stock 
preserve many of the salient characteristics of their sires and 
are not lacking in the spirit which made Cape Cod something 
more than a geographical expression in the annals of the Nation. 
"Hoppy" Mayo, Peter Walker, Squire Harding Knowles and 
others, mentioned in the story were sterling citizens of Eastham a 
century ago and they were typical of the men who lived in those 
days; men of keen intelligence and patriotism, graduates of the 
little red schoolhouses where they were taught to express their 
thoughts in the clear English which was the language of their 
Pilgrim ancestors. 

In this little volume the author has followed closely the facts 
as recorded by such writers as the Rev. Enoch Pratt, the Hon. 
Charles F. Swift and others who have given attention to the 
story of Cape Cod. The main purpose of the book is to stimu- 
late interest in the study of the chronicles and traditions of the 
Cape and the author hopes that his efforts in this direction will 
merit the approbation of the public. 
East Brewster, Cape Cod. 



CHAPTER I. 
The Capture. 

In the year 1814 Provincetown was the rendezvous of the 
British fleet which harassed the Massachusetts merchant marine 
and levied tribute on the towns of Cape Cod. The inhabitants of 
the Cape were practically defenceless against the enemy, and 
though the artillery of the period was of insignificant calibre as 
compared with the big guns of the present day, the British 
gunners were able to terrorize the scattered communities of the 
coast and it was a time of stress and trouble for the good people 
of Cape Cod. 

Added to this, the war was unpopular in the district. The 
embargo proved disastrous to American shipping and particu- 
larly affected the seagoing population of the Cape. When we 
consider that Cape Cod was vitally interested in maritime pur- 
suits we can understand how the deadlock in commerce was 
responsible for local discontent. The position of the inhabitants 
immediately under the fire of the warships was well-nigh intol- 
erable, but their patriotism never wavered however much they 
disapproved of the war. 

One summer day in this troublous year, a large whaleboat 
emerged from Boston harbor and bore away for Eastham, Cape 
Cod. The crew consisted of two men, Winslow L. Knowles and 
Matthew H. Mayo. They were both in the prime of life, typical 
Cape Codders, and had been masters of fine vessels before ^ the 
war destroyed the trade. Their whaleboat was a tiny craft in 
comparison with the stately merchantmen in which they had 
sailed the seven seas, and the skippers keenly felt their ^ fallen 
fortunes. They were now at the very nadir of the profession, 
forced to sneak from port to port in a vessel not much larger 
than one of the ships' boats of their former commands. 



I II 8 1 2 1 I 

But what was the use of complaining? That villainous Brit- 
ish fleet with its barges and light cruisers was never far away. 
A round shot across their path might at any moment bring them 
to, and then the Eastham folks would have to go without the 
goodly supply of food and drink with which the boat was laden. 

As they crept across the bay before a light wind the 
skippers exchanged reminiscences of their long voyages and found 
satisfaction in relating stirring episodes of their experiences. 
Meantime, a good lookout was kept for the enemy, but the coast 
seemed clear with the exception of a small schooner dead ahead. 
They took her to be a Duxbury fisherman. 

"It seems to me, Win, that the "Spencer" must be in Prov- 
incetown. There hasn't been much for her to fuss about lately." 

Captain Mayo was somewhat older than his companion. He 
was generally known as "Hoppy" Mayo, the sobriquet being de- 
rived from his middle name "Hophney. " 

'Yes, it looks that way, Hoppy; but you can never tell any- 
thing about that frigate. Old Raggett has got a fine ship and 
he likes to show her off. Shouldn't be surprised to see her at 
any moment." 

"Raggett is a fair enough chap," said Hoppy. "Of course, 
he has to obey orders, and he's got to do the dirty work 
planned for him in London; but he's not looking for trouble and 
if he doesn't catch you in the act he lets a good many things 
pass. ' ' 

'Damn this war, anyhow," said Captain Knowles bitterly. 

'Yes, Win, damn the war if you like, but it had to come. 
Why, that last voyage Zeke Bangs made didn't a British man- 
o'-war take four men oat of his ship and he dare not kick! 
These Britishers think they own the world, land and water alike, 
and 'twas about time to let them know some other people had 
a few rights." 

2 



I II 8 1 2 1 ■ 

''Yes, but Aye weren't prepared for war," retorted Captain 
Knowles. 

"Seems to me we were just as much prepared as we were 
when the Revolution was started. Good Lord, man, how long do 
you think we should wait while this bully of the seas was driv- 
ing us to desperation? Isn't it bad enough to pay tribute to 
the Algerine pirates? Must we forever be treated as children? 
Does any sensible person think this American nation is going to 
remain in swaddling clothes until the crack o' doom?" 

The argument continued with unabated vigor until the whale- 
boat was nearly abreast of the schooner which had been for- 
gotten in the heat of the discussion. Suddenly a round shot 
plunged into the water and both skippers jumped to their feet. 

"What the devil is that for?" exclaimed Hoppy. 

"Well, it means that we're caught in a trap," replied Captain 
Knowles. 

And so it proved to be. The schooner which they had taken 
for an inoffensive fisherman was manned by British seamen 
from the "Spencer," and was one of many captured craft which 
the enemy used for operations in the shallower waters of Cape 
Cod bay. A second shot brought the whaleboat to. 

As the schooner approached, the Americans felt all the bit- 
terness of defeat. In Boston they had been told that they stood 
a good chance of getting home safely. The frigate had not been 
seen in the bay during the previous week, and they had started 
with high hopes of a successful run. Now they were in the 
toils and Tom Crosby's two hogsheads of good Jamaica rum 
would cheer the thirsty foe ! Friends in Eastham would miss the 
comforting gill which in those days was deemed essential to the 
perfect enjoyment of life. Altogether it was a most humiliating 
situation. Here were two of the most successful runners in the 
business held up by a stratagem which they should have foreseen 
and which the veriest landlubber would have looked out for. 



i ' I 8 1 2 1 I 

What a subject for Peter Walker's sarcastic rhymes! The Brit- 
ish bullets and bayonets were harmless compared with the 
poisonous shafts of Peter's poetic quiver; their misery could be 
quickly ended by the former, but Peter's undying verse could 
be read by future generations and Hoppy Mayo and Win 
Knowles would be the laughing-stock of posterity! 

"Boat ahoy!" 

"Hullo!" answered Hoppy. 

"Come aboard!" shouted the officer on the schooner's deck. 
They were soon alongside. Lieutenant Fotheringay of His Britan- 
nic Majesty's frigate "Spencer" greeted them: 

"It is the fortune of war, sirs. You have escaped us many 
times, but the pitcher goes to the well once too often ! Captain 
Knowles, you and your friend are well known to us. Captain 
Raggett's orders to us were to get you at all hazards. I hope 
you will have no reason to complain of your treatment, at least 
until your case is finally disposed of by the commanding officer 
of this station." 

"We!re much obliged, I'm sure," replied Hoppy with a 
touch of irony; "but what puzzles me is how you happened to 
get hold of our names?" 

The officer smiled as he answered: 

"Surely, Captain Mayo, you did not suppose we were 
ignorant of your existence? Captain Raggett has had intimate 
knowledge of your exploits for some time but you have eluded 
him until now. Further than this I cannot tell you at present, 
but 1 may tell you that the next time you go to Boston it will 
not be wise for you to trust every chance acquaintance you meet 
on the waterfront ! ' ' 

The prisoners looked at each other significantly. 

"Well, I'll be darned!" exclaimed Knowles; "so it was that 
chap we met at Snow's tavern! Might have known it, too; he 
was abusing Raggett a hit too much." 

The lieutenant invited them to the cabin and treated them 
handsomely. In a few hours they reached Provincetown and as 
night fell the schooner dropped anchor under the lee of the 
"Spencer." 



CHAPTER II. 
At Crosby's Tavern. 

The tavern kept by Master Thomas Crosby at Eastham was 
thronged on the evening that Hoppy Mayo and his comrade, Win 
Knowles, were expected to arrive from Boston. Crosby's cellar 
was nearly empty of the cheering liquor that helped the male 
inhabitants of the town to bear the hardships of the woeful 
condition to which they were reduced by the fortune of war, and 
the fresh consignment which was known to be on the way was 
eagerly awaited. It must not be inferred from this that the 
population was inclined to riotous living. On the contrary, the 
people were of an orderly and peace-loving nature, but the advo- 
cates of total abstinence had not yet made much progress on 
Cape Cod, and in accordance with the custom of their fathers, 
the men of Eastham were not averse to taking a friendly gill in 
company with their neighbors who met for gossip and entertain- 
ment under Crosby's hospitable rooftree. 

Master Peter Walker, of whom it has been told by the his- 
torian that his wit was keen and his learning great, occupied his 
favorite seat by the huge chimney-place, which, however, was 
fireless at this season. Master AValker was a blacksmith by trade, 
and a poet by choice. Selectman Harding Knowles and his 
colleagues on the Board were there. Much attention was paid to 
the opinions of Squire Knowles who was a gentleman of great 
dignity and knowledge of affairs. "Uncle" Jabez Rich, retired 
schoolmaster, feeling somewhat the burden of his ninety years, sat 
opposite Master Walker. Uncle Jabez had a wonderful memory 
and was fond of telling of his stirring adventures during the old 
French wars. The rest of the company was made up of citizens 
engaged in various occupations; artisans, farmers, fishermen and 



i ' 1 8 1 21 I 

shipmasters. The latter were chafing under the enforced idleness 
caused by the enemy's blockade of the coast. Captain Jared 
Higgins was especially emphatic in condemning President Mad- 
ison for challenging the might of England on the high seas when 
the United States had no navy capable of meeting the numerous 
squadrons of Britain. Captain Jared was a staunch supporter of 
Governor Caleb Strong of Massachusetts and voted for him on 
every occasion that the anti-war governor sought office. Par- 
tisan feeling ran high in those days and heated argument was 
not uncommon at Crosby's. However, private opinions were for- 
gotten when it came to presenting a solid front to the enemy. 

The township of Eastham was part of the ancient territory of 
the Nauset Indians. It was settled in 1644 by Thomas Prence, 
later governor of Plymouth Colony, who, accompanied by the 
famous Deacon John Doane and a chosen party of colonists, pur- 
chased land from the Nansets and made their homes in the local- 
ity. These first settlers of Eastham were men of high character. 
The men who formed the gathering at Crosby's tavern on the 
evening of which we write were mostly descended from the 
pioneers who faced the wilderness and the savage in search of 
freedom to worship God in their own way, and their descendants 
had inherited this love of liberty and sturdy spirit of indepen- 
dence. Men of pure English stock predominated, but on the 
features of a few could be traced the evidence of mixed descent. 
The dark-eyed maidens of the Nausets had not been found un- 
willing to share the white man's lot, and though the red man 
had vanished from the district, a dash of his blood remained to 
tell of some forgotten romance in the olden days. Strong- 
Itodied, self-reliant citizens were these peqple of Eastham. Their 
mode of speaking was clear and incisive, denoting a high de- 
gree of intelligence. Many of them had acquired in the great 
school of world-wide experience a polish of manner and a court- 
liness of bearing that became them well. 



I II 8 1 9 1 1 

The well-worn arguments on the questions of the day were 
threshed out vigorously until the night was well advanced. Still 
no sign of the voyagers and a general feeling of uneasiness as 
to their fate became manifest. 

"Something must have gone wrong with Win and Hoppy," 
remarked Obed Sparrow. "They should have been here long 
ago." 

Peter Walker winked at Crosby. "Neighbor Sparrow is 
getting anxious about the stock in hand, Master Crosby," insin- 
uated Peter. 

'Well, Master Walker," replied mine host, "Obed has good 
reason to feel anxious about it, if that's what's in his mind. My 
last hogshead of Jamaica is running low." 

"Oh," Peter put in slyly, "you may be doing Obed an in- 
justice. Perhaps he's thinking about the molasses. Mistress 
Sparrow is famed for her cookies, you know." 

Everybody laughed. "What was that rhyme of yours on 
the subject, Peter?" inquired Squire Knowles. 

"If it wouldn't hurt Obed's feelings," replied Master Walk- 
er, "I might give you a verse or two, if only to help pass the 
time. ' ' 

' ' Let 's have it, Master Walker ! ' ' cried several in chorus. 

"Well, neighbors, it isn't very good poetry, but it's good 
rhyme and it's a tribute to Mistress Sparrow's accomplishments." 

Master Walker cleared his throat and began: 

This good old town of Eastham boasts 

Of gallant men and true, 
Who never shirked their duty when 

The call of country blew; 
Who carried sail thro' many a gale, 

To meet upon the sea 
The British foe, and strike a blow 

For home and liberty! 



I II 8 1 21 1 

And foremost in the battle's van 

Bold Obed leads his crew; 
He's always there his part to share 

In deeds of derring-do ! 
And when he brings his prize to port 

Thro' storm and flying foam, 
He'll proudly tell he'd conquer hell 

On the grub he gets at home ! 

Cheers and laughter greeted this sally and Master Walker 
was urged to continue. Obed was- particularly clamorous for the 
rest of the verses. He loved to hear his good wife praised. 

"Aye, it is just like your blood, Peter," muttered Uncle 
Jabez. "I remember well when Jonas Walker kept the camp in 
goodhumor that time before Louisburg. We were in the Fourth 
company of Gorham's Regiment, and Elisha Doane, our captain, 
used to say that Jonas Walker was the life and soul of the reg- 
iment. Colonel Shubael G-orham often had Jonas to amuse the 
officers when they supped in the Colonel's tent." 

'Those were stirring times, Uncle Jabez," said Squire 
Knowles. 

"Aye, Squire; there were fine men in that regiment. I have 
seen Captain Joseph Thacher, of Yarmouth, go right through an 
embrasure into the Grand Battery while the bullets were thick 
as hail." 

'You must tell us the story some time, Uncle Jabez. Master 
Walker might get offended if we don't listen to the rest of his 
poem." 

'It's getting late, neighbors," said Peter. "Some other 
time I'll finish it." 

Harding Knowles and Peter Walker went home together. 

"Peter," said Harding, "if Hoppy and Win do not arrive 
during the night we must conclude something serious has hap- 
pened. I sincerely trust they have not been captured." 

8 



I II 8 1 21 I 

"I'm afraid that's just what has happened, Harding," re- 
plied Peter. "That runner from Provincetown told me last 
week that the British seemed to be up to something new. He 
said Raggett hadn't been ashore for a week, and that seemed 
strange, as Raggett was fond of stretching his legs over the 
dunes." 

"I fear there is bad work ahead for us, Peter. Hoppy is hot- 
headed, you know, and he '11 be apt to give offence to those 
fellows at whose mercy we are. Tis said they are going to levy 
tribute on the Bay towns, and God only knows how we are to 
meet it. The Committee of Safety has been considering the 
matter. Some are for fighting it out; others consider that 
course unwise as we have no armed force to signify." 

"I plainly see we are in a bad fix, Harding, but we can 
only wait and hope for the best. Raggett's been pretty good 
about it up to this and if he's changed, it must be due to or- 
ders from London." 

"That's so, Peter. The National government little realizes 
the hardship of our position, and even if it did, we have no 
naval force for the protection of the Cape. The scattered units 
of our navy are doing great work but the "British are- in over- 
whelming numbers. The loss of the Chesapeake last year was 
disheartening." 

"Well," replied Peter, and there was fire in his eye, "you 
know, Harding, what Lawrence said on that occasion: 'Don't 
give up the ship!' Keep that in mind, Harding, and we may 
yet bring the bully of the Bay to terms." 

"Let's hope for the best, Peter. Good night.' 

"Good night, Harding.' 






CHAPTER III. 
Prisoners of War. 

After a night of fitful slumber, the captives were awakened 
early by Dunton, the master's mate left in charge of the 
schooner when Lieutenant Fotheringay went aboard the frigate. 
Dunton was a surly fellow, over middle age, and heartily hating 
all Americans who, in his opinion, were an inferior breed of Eng- 
lish inhabiting a semi-civilized land. To him they were "damned 
Yanks," deserving of neither courtesy nor favor. 

"Lively, you fellows; get ready to go aboard the frigate." 

Hoppy coolly looked him over. "I guess there ain't much 
getting ready about it, my friend. You see, we kind o' forgot 
to bring our Sunday clothes, not expecting this honor." 

'I don't want any back talk from prisoners," replied Dun- 
ton, sneeringly. 

"Is that so?" asked Hoppy in an even voice, though 
inwardly he felt like kicking the officer. "Well, now, I should 
think you'd like a little chat, seeing you're so friendly about 
it." 

"Nice pair of scarecrows you are to go aboard a king's ship 
and meet a post-captain!" 

This was intended to silence Hoppy. Hoppy flushed, and 
Captain Knowles, seeing trouble ahead, nudged his compatriot 
warningly but without effect. 

'Don't know as you're any beauty yourself, Dunton, with 
all your finery in the way of brass buttons. Ignorant folks 
might take you to be the king of England himself, but I have 
met king's officers before now and I know that a master's mate 
of your stripe is no ornament to a ship's company. " 

Dunton was furious. "You'll be sorry for those words yet, 
you damned Yankee smuggler!" 



I II 8 1 9 1 I 

"Maybe so," returned Hoppy. "I'm willing to take a 
chance, anyway." 

There was some time to wait for the small boat to return 
from the frigate, and from the deck of the schooner the prison- 
ers had a fine view of the splendid harbor of Provincetown, 
capable of affording anchorage for a thousand sail, as was noted 
by Bradford when the Mayflower first made the port. Many 
times had the captives sailed on these waters and to them every 
depth and shallow was familiar. And yet, notwithstanding the 
glorious summer morning, there seemed to be the shadow of 
disaster over the scene. The town had suffered severely from 
the presence of the enemy's ships. Commerce was completely at 
a standstill, for the great industry of the place, fishing, could 
not be carried on under the muzzles of the British guns, and the 
few vessels left in the port were rotting on the beach. The 
population was reduced to a state of dumb submission to the in- 
vaders and, with the exception of the British ships, the roadstead 
was a waste of waters. 

About fifty yards from the schooner, the "Spencer" pre- 
sented a sight to gladden a sailor's eye. Her towering masts 
and trim rigging showed clearly against the sky. Her deck 
was a-swarm with busy men and her burnished brasswork shone 
in the sunlight. 

"She certainly is a beauty, Hoppy," remarked Captain 
Knowles admiringly. 

"Yes, Win, she is surely that," replied Hoppy. "No won- 
der Raggett is proud of her." 

"Well, he's got about three hundred hands to keep busy 

and they have nothing else to do but keep her tidied up. If 
there was a little more fighting she mightn't look so pretty. 
Still, I don't think I should like this navy life, myself." 

"Same here, Win. These Britishers have always had a navy 
and got kind o' used to the thing, but we have hardly started 

11 



I I I 8 1 2 1 I 

in. Maybe in a few more years we shall have something be- 
sides a few cruisers and privateers to meet them." 

Soon after this the boat arrived and the prisoners were 
transferred to the frigate. 

Lieutenant Fotheringay, courteous as ever, met them at the 
gangway. 

"Gentlemen, Captain Raggett desires your presence in his 
cabin. ' ' 

"Well, now," said Iioppy smilingly, "I'll be hanged if it's 
not a pleasure to meet a gentleman once more, even if he's an 
enemy !" 

' ' Thank you, Captain Mayo. ' ' 

"That fellow Dunton might take a few lessons in manners 
from you, lieutenant. He wants 'em badly." 

Before they readied the cabin, Fotheringay stopped them, 
saying : 

"So you have had trouble with Dunton? I expected it, and 
I am sorry that any unpleasantness should have arisen. How- 
ever, it is not for me to say anything against a brother officer. 
Let it pass. I take this opportunity to tell you that Captain 
Raggett is in a very bad humor. He has had despatches from 
the Admiralty finding fault with him for not being more active 
in harassing the shore towns. There is trouble hatching for your 
people and it will not help matters if you cross him in any way. 
Captain Mayo, you will excuse me, but I think you are a little 
hotheaded. You had better let Captain Knowles do the talk- 
ing." 

"Thank you kindly, Mr. Fotheringay," said Iioppy heartily, 

'Win certainly is a smoother talker than I am; never much of 

what you call a diplomat, myself. But whatever happens, we 

want you to remember that we are grateful for your kindness, 

and if all Britishers were like you, there would be no trouble." 

"And I, Mr. Fotheringay," said Win, "repeat what I said 

12 



I II 8 1 2 1 I 

to Hoppy yesterday, 'Damn this war!' And now more than ever 
when it makes us the enemies of a man like you." 

'You are very good to say so," replied the officer. 

In response to a knock at the captain's door, a gruff voice 
hade them enter. Captain Richard Raggett arose from his chair 
when Fotheringay saluted and introduced the unwilling guests. 
The captain's keen eyes searched the faces of the prisoners as, 
he motioned them to be seated. 

Post-Captain Richard Raggett of the Royal Navy was a stout 
man of about sixty years of age. "Old Dick Raggett," as he 
was familiarly known throughout the service, was an officer of 
the school that gave Britain such sailors as Rodney, Nelson, 
Collingwood, and others whose names are inseparably connected 
with the story of England's glory on the high seas. He had 
fought under his country's flag in every quarter of the globe 
and for nearly half a century he had served his king with 
devoted loyalty, always obeying orders no matter what those 
orders might be. In battle he was unrelenting, but he was 
never known to press unfairly a beaten foe. He had no liking 
for his present duty on the coast of Massachusetts. There was 
no glory in bullying defenceless villagers and he had not exerted 
himself overmuch in the operations against Cape Cod. But 
London had reminded him that there was a state of war between 
the United States and Great Britain and that the government 
expected some positive results from the blockade of the New 
England coast. Raggett was stung by the sarcasm of the re- 
minder. He knew his enemies at headquarters were at work to 
discredit him and he was determined to outwit them at any 
hazard. 

He was, then, in no amiable mood as he addressed the Cape 
men : 

"So you have been running the blockade in a whaleboat? 
Pretty small business for shipmasters like you?" 



31 8 1 9 1 » 



Shipmasters without a ship, Captain Raggett, and until 
captured engaged in bringing necessaries of life from Boston to 
our town," replied Captain Knowles. 

"By G , sir!" cried Raggett with the suspicion of a 

smile, "your people have a pretty good idea of what are 
necessaries of life. I find that your cargo mostly consisted of 
good Jamaica rum." 

This rather upset Win, but Hoppy was equal to the occasion. 

Its like this, Captain Raggett," said he; "there's been 

quite a lot of sickness in the place, and we old sailors know 

there s nothing can break up a cold like the old-fashioned cure 

ot rum and molasses." 

"Well, I'm afraid the invalids will have to suffer this trip." 

"Looks that way, Captain Raggett," assented Hoppv dole- 
fully. 

'Now, my men," said Raggett, "you know I have been very 
lenient about this business. It's not the sort of warfare I'm 
used to. But it's got to stop now. I've got myself into hot 
water with the authorities in London on account of my leniency 
and I don't mind telling you that I don't like being rep- 
rimanded by fellows who never went a mile to sea in the whole 
course of their clerkly lives. But that has nothing to do with the 
matter at present. Dick Raggett has got orders and, by George, 
he s going to obey them ! I have had scouts out for you for 
some time, and I'm going to hold you until ransomed." 

'Then that will be forever!" exclaimed Hoppy. "There's no 
one to ransom us, Captain Raggett. Of course, yon can con- 
fiscate our boat and cargo, and hold us prisoners, but if von fix 
the price too high for our means, then that fixes us so far as nve 
are concerned." 

'I must make an example of your capture," replied Rag- 
gett, "because you two are the most daring and successful of 
all the runners. But that doesn't mean that my terms can't be 

14 



r 



31 8 1 2[ 



met. ^I confess I admire your pluck and resourcefulness." 

"Of course, Captain Raggett, we are entirely at your mercy " 
said Captain Knowles, "but we have no reason to fear harsh 
treatment so long as we are in your hands. In the event of 
our not being able to meet your terms, we stand a chance of 
being transferred from your ship. Some Cape Cod men are just 
now m Dartmoor prison." 

"You will not be maltreated on the "Spencer," that I can 
promise. In the event of transference to another ship, you must 
take your chances with the rest." 

"If it would not be asking too much, Captain Raggett, "we 
should like to know what your terms are?" 

Raggett paused for some minutes before replying. His usual 
good temper was coming back. He saw that the men with 
whom he was dealing were above the ordinary standard of the 
seamen of the period, both in education and intelligence, and 
while he knew just what he wanted of them, he was unwilling 
to alienate their good opinion of him by any premature an- 
nouncement of his plans. 

"My friends," said he, "I think we had better postpone 
the discussion of that point until this evening. You must have 
a look over my ship. I am sure she will please old skippers like 
you. Mr. * othermgay, who has given me some knowledge of 
your standing m your community, will take you in charge. 
Meantime, permit me to offer you some of this special brand." 

The Cape Codders raised their glasses. "Here's to your 
good health, Captain Raggett," said Hoppy. "Let's hope that 
this war will soon be over and that our countries will never have 
another! 

"I heartily join you in that, my friends," responded the 
British commander. "At the same time, I can imagine the 

<ATi°^- 0f S ° me S entlemen in London if they ever hear that 
Old Dick Raggett' was clinking glasses with two of the most 
venturesome blockade runners on the Massachusetts coast!" 

With a laugh at the thought, he sent them on deck where 
if othermgay took charge of them. 

15 



CHAPTER IV. 

Uncle Jabez Spins a Yarn. 

The news of the capture of the whaleboat and its occu- 
pants soon became known to the inhabitants of Eastham and 
the tidings were received with dismay. The loss of the boat 
and her cargo was bad enough, but the fact that two of the 
neighbors were prisoners and liable to be sent across the ocean 
to Dartmoor caused consternation in the town. Then, again, the 
incident clearly betokened a change of policy on the part of the 
British. It was evident that the blockade was to be enforced 
rigorously, and this meant a scarcity of those provisions which 
the people were accustomed to get from Boston. Rye was plenti- 
ful, but anything approaching luxury was out of the question 
under the circumstances. The Committee of Safety was hastily 
convened, but after a long discussion the meeting adjourned until 
some definite information regarding the enemy's movements 
could be obtained. Messengers were sent to Provincetown with 
' instructions to consult with the selectmen of that place and get 
their views. 

The prevailing gloom was apparent at Crosby's tavern. The 
, gossips were gathered as usual, but there were no jokes going 
around ; even Master Walker refrained from any of his custom- 
ary sallies. Uncle Jabez Rich occupied his seat in the chimney 
corner, and as he philosophically smoked his pipe, he seemed to 
be the only person untroubled by the shadow of hard times. 

'You don't appear to be much worried about the future, 
Uncle Jabez?" Peter remarked. 

'The future, Master Walker, has been before me for nearly 
ninety years but I have never overtaken it. The past is what 
an old man knows best. The present must be left to the young." 



I II 8 1 21 I 

"There have been many changes in Eastham since you were 
a boy, Uncle Jabez?" 

"Aye, Master Walker, many changes, surely. In some ways 
the youngsters now know more than grown people in my youth, 
and in other ways our great scholars of today are far behind the 
men of learning who lived here in the old days." 

Peter Walker saw that Uncle Jabez was in a reminiscent 
mood. The occasion was ripe for stimulating the old man's 
memory. 

"I've heard my grandfather tell of those good times when 
Mr. Treat was minister. That was before your time, Uncle Jabez. 
Grandfather was only eighty when he died, but he hadn't your 
memory. " 

"No, Peter, few men have my memory, if I do say it my- 
self. I was only a boy at the time, but I well remember the 
days when Mr. Samuel Osborn was minister. Ah, he 
was a rare man! It was not his piety that recommended him 
to his flock, though he was a good man, too. It was his way 
of doing good. He took hold of the things nearest to hand. 
Didn't your grandfather ever mention how Mr. Osborn taught 
the people the value of peat for fuel when there was a scarcity 
of wood?" 

"He used to say something of the sort, Uncle Jabez, but he 
got Mr. Osborn mixed with the other minister, Mr. Webb." 

"Aye, Mr. Weld) was one of the best men that ever lived 
but he had no faculty for practical matters. He had the Middle 
Parish, and Mr. Osborn had the South Parish. They were 
always the best of friends, though their dispositions were very 
different. Didn't you ever hear the story of how the "Whidah" 
was lost and how one of the two survivors used to come to 
the Cape for years after in search of the pirate's treasure?' 1 

"We heard a little of the story, Uncle Jabez, but nobody 
seemed to know it in full." 

17 



I I I 8 1 2 1 I 

"I know it in full, Master Walker." 

As Uncle Jabez said this the hearers became more inter- 
ested and drew nearer the chimney place. 

"Tell us about it, Uncle Jabez," urged Obed Sparrow. "I 
have heard tell of that strange man who frequented the dunes 
of Wellfleet years ago. Nobody seems to know what was his 
end." 

Uncle Jabez was nothing loth to comply, and this is how his 
story ran. 

In those old days, my masters, Eastham was a town of great 
importance in the colony. From the bounds of Chatham and 
Harwich on the west, it took in the rest of the Cape as far as 
Truro. It was the famous corn-raising district of the colony, 
Nauset being known to the first settlers as "the granary of the 
Cape." It had many men engaged in the fisheries and some 
went long voyages to southern lands in search of the vintage of 
Santa Cruz and Jamaica, bartering the spoil of the ocean for 
the products of the tropics. The Indians of the Nauset tribe, 
original owners of the soil, were rapidly vanishing from the 
earth, though a remnant of the nation still remained. They were 
a kindly race and lived in peace with the white man. After 
King Philip's War, the power of the Narragansetts and the 
Wampanoags was broken, but the colony was still subject to 
frequent alarms from the French and their Indian allies, who 
were active in other parts of the state. 

Some ten years before I was born, the Rev. Samuel Treat 
died. He had served the people for forty-four years, and his 
funeral was the occasion of great grief to all. He was beloved 
by the Indians. Two years after this, the pirate ship 
'Whidah" was wrecked during a great storm. One hundred 
and two bodies were washed ashore and buried on the dunes. 
Only two of the crew survived, an Englishman and an Indian. 

18 



I II 8 1 9 1 I 

They disappeared almost immediately after they were rescued 
and nobody knew where they went to. I have often heard my 
father describe that fearful night. The raging ocean burst 
through the Cape, opening a passage through which boats could 
pass. Daylight revealed a dreadful sight. The sands were strewn 
with the bodies of the dead pirates. An immense concourse gath- 
ered from all parts of the Cape to view the scene and, if pos- 
sible, to have their share of the treasure which Sam Bellamy, 
the pirate captain, was supposed to have had on board. 

Some of you, my masters, may know all of this; all of you 
may know some of it, but as my story has to deal with the 
"strange man" who frequented this district some years after 
the wreck of the pirate, I hope I have not trespassed on your 
patience by this allusion to the event which was responsible for 
the stranger's appearance in our town. 

Years passed by, and 1 was a stout lad of ten when I first 
heard of this man. He had been seen on the Wellfleet beach, 
apparently searching for something. The scene of his operations 
was just below the hut of Goody Hallett, on the line 
between Eastham and what is now Wellfleet. Goody Hallett 
lived alone. She was old and most people regarded her 
as a witch, but this was probably because she kept much to her- 
self. She was expert at the spinning-wheel and ostensibly sup- 
ported herself by this industry. She never asked charity, though 
people wondered how so old a woman could earn enough to 
keep her from want. She courted seclusion, and the situation 
of her small dwelling, far removed from the prying eyes of 
neighbors, favored this. A tall, thin woman, with dark features 
strongly telling of Indian blood, her appearance went far to 
confirm the idea that she rode the broomstick and could work 
charms. She was not a native of this place. It was said she 
belonged to a distant part of the Cape, beyond Yarmouth, and 
she arrived in Eastham soon after the wreck of the "Whidah. " 

19 



I I I 8 1 21 I 

The stranger was described as a man of fierce aspect. His 
beard and mustachios were originally coal-black but time had 
whitened the pointed ends. His face was scarred in many 
places. Those who brought the news of his presence said that 
when he discovered that he was being watched his features were 
contorted with passion and his expression was that of the Evil 
One. Allowing for some exaggeration on the part of the 
frightened beholders, there could be no doubt but that this 
stranger of forbidding mien desired to avoid the observation of 
the inhabitants while he pursued his mysterious search of the 
sands. 

One evening in the late Fall, when the first snowflakes 
began to whiten the ground, my father and I had made all 
snug for the night and were leaving the barn when we heard the 
sound of a horse's hoofs approaching the house. Soon the way- 
farer entered the yard and a cheerful voice greeted us. 

"Give ye good e'en, Goodman Rich! Like a careful hus- 
bandman thou hast made thy beasts comfortable. Now, in the 
hospitality of thy heart, couldst thou find place below the salt 
for a weary guest at the bounteous feast which awaits thee? 
And how is my young friend Jabez?" 

It was the Rev. Mr. Osborn. My father gave him hearty 
welcome, bade him dismount and enter. Ho stabled the 
horse while the minister was made welcome by my mother. 
Soon we were seated at table and Mr. Osborn continually praised 
the good things which my mother had set before us, a fact which 
pleased' her greatly. 

He was a man of genial temperament, free-spoken and 
always ready for his joke. Some of the stricter members of the 
South Parisli church did not like his easy ways, but he had 
done much good among the people and, as yet, the mutterings 
of his enemies were scarcely heard. He had come from Ireland 
in the early years of the century and he had some of the faults 



' i i « 1 21 I 

as well as many of the virtues of his native land. His views 
on Christianity were broad; in fact, too broad for the elders 
of his church, as was afterward shown by his dismissal from the 
parish after trial by an ecclesiastical court. He had rejected the 
Calvinism in which his congregation had been reared. But he 
was a great man, and from him I learned many of the lessons 
which formed part of my equipment as schoolmaster in after 
years. He retained much of the old manner of speech which 
was then giving place to the modern form. 

"I have been to Truro to see my good friend Mr. Avery, 
goodman, and I dallied on my way home, so that is the reason 
of my forcing myself on your hospitality for the night." 

"You are heartily welcome, Mr. Osborn," said my mother. 
"The guest-chamber is all prepared." 

"Aye, goodwife, I well knew I should not find thy hospitable 
mansion unprepared. My friend Mr. Avery is not in the best 
of health. In the course of his exacting ministerial duties he 
caught a chill, but it is not serious. One of the best and most 
Godly of men and a true father to his spiritual children." 

"He is no better than yourself, sir!" exclaimed my mother. 
The minister smiled somewhat sadly. "I fear me much, 
goodwife, that I can never reach the higher altitudes of sanctity 
where these saintly men live. The even tenor of their ways is 
never troubled by the doubts which sometimes harass mine. 
Perchance it is because I have seen so much of the evil of in- 
tolerance in my own country that I am sick at heart to see it 
powerful in this great new land. I have offended the elders of 
the South Parish by mildly hinting that the good Lord might 
even look with favor on a Papist if the misguided brother was 
honest in his interpretation of the Master's will." 

"But," he continued, "let us not spoil this happy occasion 
by theological discussion. I had quite an adventure on my way 
to Truro last night. Strange things are happening in onr midst, 

21 



■ 1 1 8 1 21 I 

Goodman Rich. Dost wish to hear what befell me?' 1 

"Aye, sir, and if you please," answered my father. "But 
before you commence, the goodwife will mix you a brew from the 
last wreck." 

My mother was skilled in the art of concocting a life-giving 
draught based on the Jamaica which came ashore from the wreck 
of the brig "Mary," and soon we were listening to the minis- 
ter's tale which I give in our own speech. 



22 






CHAPTER V. 
Uncle Jabez Spins A Yarn, (continued) 

You know where Goody Hallett lives, Goodman Rich? It is 
a lonely spot. After spending an hour last evening with your 
beloved pastor, Mr. Webb, I resumed my journey to Truro just 
as the shades of evening were gathering, expecting to reach Mr. 
Avery's in time for his usually late supper. Before I had gone 
very far, my horse- showed a slight lameness and I was, perforce, 
obliged to travel at a slow pace. Night comes on rapidly at 
this season and it was very dark when I reached the confines 
of Billingsgate. I had long since left the thickly populated dis- 
trict behind and I guided my horse carefully over the dunes as 
I was not sure of the way, not having been accustomed to 
traveling by night in that region of the Cape. An occasional 
star gleamed fitfully through the cloud rifts, but there was no 
other light to be seen on either hand. The booming of the ocean 
to my right told me that my direction was northerly and I felt 
sure I had not lost my way. Suddenly I heard voices and I 
stopped my horse. Peering through the inky darkness I dis- 
cerned a faint glimmer about fifty yards from me, as I judged. 
I wondered what the light meant as I was certain the locality 
was uninhabited. Hitching my horse to a tree, I cautiously ap- 
proached the light, the voices becoming more distinct as I 
advanced. Then I realized that I was in the vicinity of Goody 
Hallett 's hut, but as I knew she lived alone I was at a loss to 
account for the altercation which was in progress. 

About ten yards from the hut I stopped and listened. Goody 
Hallett had a guest, and, judging by his expressions, one who was 
not of this neighborhood. I could now plainly hear all that was 
said and strange indeed was the impression conveyed to my mind 
by the fierce tones in which the man spoke to the old woman. 



i ' 1 8 1 21 l 

"It is no use trying to fool me longer, Mother Hallett. I 
have been to many ports since that dread night, but I mind me 
well where the booty was secreted. You say you found but 
little ; that it must have been found by these swinish lubbers who 
dwell on this God-forsaken sandbank. They thought they buried 
me with the rest of the gallant rovers when the old ship went 
to pieces under us, but they little knew who was the fellow- 
survivor of your relative, Indian Tom! We disappeared, they 
said. Truly, Mother Hallett, we did disappear, but not on that 
morning, as .they thought. Indian Tom knew how to hide and 
to provide food, so we stayed for days unknown to the wreckers 
who were unable to think of anything but Sam Bellamy's gold! 
They didn't find it, the swine! Indian Tom knew his orders 
better than that. Give me some more rum, old hag!" 

Through the small window of the hut I saw the tall figure 
of Goody Hallett pass between me and the light. She soon 
returned, evidently with the liquor demanded by the man, as the 
clinking of glasses told me that he was helping himself to the 
generous fluid. 

Then I heard Goody Hallett say in her shrill voice: "I tell 
you, pirate, that I found only a small part of the gold and 
silver in the place where Indian Tom told me he had hidden the 
treasure. He died the night after he came home to his people. 
I was the last person that saw him alive. In his last moments 
he confided the secret to me." 

"And you started post-haste to this place, I'll be bound!" 
exclaimed the man fiercely. "Yes, old witch, I heard the story 
from the lips of your nephew when I sought traces of Indian 
Tom last month. It was also rumored that Tom died of poison!" 

The old woman laughed mockingly. "The fools! Why 
should anybody poison poor Tom when we were all glad to see 
him home again after his years of voyaging with you?" 

"Perhaps somebody had an interest in poisoning Tom? I 

24 



I I I 8 1 21 I 

should better know why if I knew whether he told you about 
the treasure before or after he fell sick?" 

"Dog of a pirate! Dare you insinuate that I had aught to 
do with the death of my uncle's son?" Her voice was almost a 
shriek as she flung this at him. 

"Ho, softly, Mother Hallett, softly, I say!" The man was 
somewhat disconcerted by the old woman's rage. "Come," he 
continued, "let's clink our glasses once again to pledge our 
friendship. "We are the only ones who now can tell where the 
treasure was hidden and together we must find it. Let me sing 
you one of my old sea songs.. Ah, that's a better spirit, Mother 
Hallett! Now I'll give you a stave." 

In a roaring tone he started to sing. It was a wild song of 
the rover's life and the singer flung his whole soul into the 
performance. I can remember the first stanza, which he repeated 
several times as if it were a kind of refrain. This was how it 
went : 

"Sing ho, my lads, for Bellamy bold, 

For he is king of the main ! 
He's filled the hold with yellow gold 

From the galleons of Spain. 
Then bear away by the light of the moon, 

We carry a rover's freight — 
Sing ho, for the gleam of a yellow doubloon 

And the chink of pieces of eight! 
Sing ho, etc." 

There were several verses in the same spirit telling of fair- 
haired and blue-eyed maids in Bristol town awaiting the home- 
coming of the rover who, however, was well content to lavish his 
wealth on the darker-hued sirens whose flashing eyes welcomed 
him to the bowers of love in the sunny isles of the southern seas. 

The effect of the song was to restore good feeling between 

25 



i 1 1 8 1 2 1 I 

the pair and the subsequent discussion was free from acrimony. 
They talked about the treasure. Goody Hallett insisted that the 
sea must have encroached on the spot where it was hidden, and 
scattered it. The shifting sands then covered it. She admitted 
having recovered some of it and expressed her willingness to 
share with her guest. On his part, he urged that now was the 
time to settle ; he must be leaving immediately as his ship awaited 
him in Bostoin and he would be absent for a long time. Goody 
Hallett agreed to this. There was some little haggling over the 
division of the spoil, but the man appeared convinced that the 
old woman was telling the truth and accepted what she gave 
him. He promised to revisit the place at the end of the voyage 
and resume the search for the lost treasure. Then the light was 
put out and all was silence. 

Filled with astonishment at this strange occurrence, I 
mounted my horse and continued my journey to Mr. Avery's. 
'Twas very late when I arrived but I found my friend sitting up. 
The saintly minister was much alarmed and astonished when I 
told him of my adventure. He had heard some talk about this 
strange man but put it down to idle gossip. 

Together we 'rode to Goody Hallett 's hut next day, but 
there was no trace of the stranger, and the old woman vehement- 
ly denied that any such person had ever been there ! 

"Now, Goodman Rich, what do you think of it?" asked the 
minister when he had finished. 

My father acknowledged that he had heard of the man's 
presence in the neighborhood. He believed him to be the Eng- 
lishman who was one of the survivors of the "Whidah" wreck; 
in fact, the minister's story confirmed this. Perhaps he was 
Sam Bellamy himself? As to that, however, he was present at 
the burial of the drowned pirates and he remembered one 
corpse being identified as that of the pirate captain. 

2G 



]1 8 1 2C 



Next morning the minister went his way after profusely 
thanking my parents for their hospitality. 

In the five years following the departure of the stranger 
many things happened. Mr. Osborn had been dismissed from 
the South Parish and he left the district, never to return. Time 
will do justice to the memory of this gifted man whose- broad 
views were so much misunderstood by his contemporaries. To me 
he had always shown marked favor, and I loved to hear him 
speak of the noted men of letters he had known in the Old 
World. He told me many anecdotes of Jonathan Swift, the 
famous Dean of St. Patrick's, and he used to read for me pas- 
sages from the works of that brilliant but erratic churchman. 
That Mr. Osborn had a liking for such literature was not the 
least of his offences in the eyes of the stern elders of his parish. 

The incident of the strange man was almost forgotten, ex- 
ec])! by those who, like myself, had heard the minister's story. 
My father and I often talked it over and the facts were indel- 
ibly fixed in my .young mind. Goody Hallett was still alive, but 
she was now feeble and those who visited her hut with wool for 
the spinning reported that her mental faculties were getting 
weak; at least, so they inferred from her garrulity and the 
strange talk she indulged in. 

I was now a lusty youth, of great assistance to my father 
in his labors and skilled in all the craftsmanship which the 
young men of the time were supposed to know. My mother 
was desirous that I should go to Harvard college, but we were 
not well off in the world's goods and my father was beginning 
to feel the effects of his laborious life, so that project came to 
nothing. The most we could hope for from my attainments as 
a scholar was the position of teacher in the district school when 
I grew to man's estate. Not until I was in my fortieth year 
was this ambition of my mother realized, and then the good 
woman had been long in her grave. 



•li 



■ 1 1 8 1 2 1 I 

One evening in the early spring, a traveler called at our 
door and asked for refreshment. I was alone with my mother 
at the time and I took particular notice of the man as he par- 
took of the food given him. His beard was grey and bushy, 
growing nearly to his eyes. I had never before seen a man wear 
a beard in such fashion. His nose was large and hooked and 
there was a fierce glitter in his eyes. However, he was very 
civil. He told us that he was bound for Truro where he had 
friends. In leaving, he raised his hat, and this movement re- 
vealed a broad scar across the upper part of his forehead. 
Seeing that I had observed the mark, the man hastily drew his 
hat over his eyes and departed. 

Next day I set out for Goody Hallett's with a bundle of 
wool which my mother wanted spun. I had not given much 
thought to the visit of the traveler to our house, but still, some- 
how, I couldn't altogether dismiss it from my mind. The 
fierceness of his eyes and the broad scar on his forehead had 
stirred some memories of the minister's tale, and as I brought 
my horse to a stop at Goody Hallett's hut I had an indescrib- 
able feeling that I was to see this man again, and that I should 
find him to be the pirate. 

There was no answer to my knock. This I thought strange 
as Goody Hallett was seldom known to leave her dwelling. It 
was the early afternoon and the day was fine, so, finding that 
my repeated knocking gained me no admittance I came to the 
couclusion that the old woman was not at home. I determined 
to await her return. I deposited my bundle of wool on the door- 
step and tied my horse to a nearby tree ; then I strolled over 
the dunes to the ocean side where I could view the passing ships. 
I took a seat on the edge of the cliff and leisurely surveyed the 
restless bosom of the Atlantic and listened to the thunder of the 
surf at my feet. At times I fancied I heard voices, but the 
booming of the combers was so loud that nothing else could be 



■■& 



28 



I I I 8 1 9 1 I 

heard distinctly. All at once a piercing shriek rang out above 
all other sounds and I started to my feet. It came from directly 
below where I stood. Mightily afraid as I was, I could not resist 
the temptation of peering over the bank, and there I saw a 
sight, my masters, which froze the blood in my veins! Old 
Goody Hallett was lying on her back, her throat cut from ear 
to ear, and, standing over her, one foot on her chest, was our 
guest of the day before. He brandished a bloody knife in his 
right hand while his left hand was pointed in mockery at the 
prostrate body of his victim. Although almost paralyzed with 
horror, I watched him. He was evidently muttering curses on 
the dead woman but I could not catch his words. Then he drove 
the knife deep into her heart and left the weapon in the wound. 
Retreating a few paces from the body, he shook his fist at it, at 
the same time his terrible voice resounded above the roar of 
the breakers : 

"Accursed hag! lie there for the birds to peck at! Sam 
Bellamy's knife has stung better women than you and death at 
his hands is too noble an ending for your life of deceit. Sam 
Bellamy's own time has come, but he will get release from his 
troubles beneath the waves which he has ruled and on the spot 
where his gallant shipmates met their fate ! Fare ye well, old 
witch!" 

With his fiendish laughter ringing in my ears I rushed from 
the place, mounted my horse and galloped furiously to the vil- 
lage with the dreadful tidings. 

The alarm soon spread and the whole neighborhood was 
aroused. Armed men searched the country for the pirate, but 
without avail. A few days after the funeral of Goody Ilal- 
lett, his body was cast up by the sea on the very sands where 
the corpses of his fellows were found. 

The hut of the old spinner was ransacked for evidence to 
clear- up the affair, but only a few paltry coins were found. 

29 



i 1 1 8 1 21 I 

There was absolutely nothing to explain the mystery. The place 
was then destroyed by fire, and for many years timid folks 
avoided the spot. It was surmised that the pirate suspected the 
woman of playing him false and that he forced her to accom- 
pany him to the place where the treasure was hidden by Indian 
Tom and himself. Finding no trace of it, he slaughtered his 
companion and then committed suicide by drowning. It is well 
known, however, that curious coins were sometimes picked up 
in the vicinity during the years following the tragedy, but the 
bulk of the treasure could not be traced. 

And now, my masters, you have heard me tell of a matter 
which I seldom mention. If an old man's tale has kept you 
too long from your firesides, I crave pardon. 

.30 



CHAPTER VI. 
The Committee of Safety. 

The Committee of Safety was in session. This important 
body was composed of the Selectmen of Eastham. In cases of 
extreme emergency the town fathers were empowered to call the 
leading citizens into council, and on this occasion there was a full 
attendance of representative men ready to hear the report of the 
messengers 'who had been sent to Provincetown for tidings of the 
captives. 

Chairman of Selectmen, Obed Knowles, presided, and with 
him on the bench were his colleagues, Samuel Freeman and 
Harding Knowles, Esquires. Captain Heman Smith, who repre- 
sented the town in the General Court of the Commonwealth, was 
courteously given a seat with these notables, while the others 
had to be content with the- "forms" on the floor of the town 

house. 

The opening formalities having been gone through, the chair- 
man called on the messengers to come forward and tell their 
story. Master Timothy Cole acted as spokesman for his com- 
panions. 

"Mr. Chairman," said he, "we have, indeed, bad news to 
tell. Hoppy and Win are prisoners, sure enougb, and it is 
known that Captain Raggett is to hold them for a heavy ransom, 
failing which, they will be transferred to another ship and sent 
to England. This, Ave understand, means that they are destined 
for imprisonment in Dartmoor." 

"That certainly is bad news, Timothy," said the chairman. 
"What is the opinion in Provincetown about the new policy of 

Captain Raggett?" 

"Well, Mr. Chairman, they say he is in very bad humor. A 
sloop arrived from England about three weeks ago and it is 



I I I 8 1 9 1 I 

thought she brought fresh instructions to Raggett. Before she 
came, the British sailors were frequently ashore and behaved 
"very civilly, leaving quite a lot of money in the town in the 
way of trade with the people. The town is in a bad state and 
this trade was a great help. The people say they are in a 
worse condition than the other Bay towns, for the British ships 
cannot approach such places as Eastham, Brewster, or Orleans 
closely on account of the shallow waters and the sand bars, 
whereas, the harbor of Provincetown is always open water and 
a fine anchorage for all kinds of craft. From what we observed 
they are sorely pressed." 

'Is there no communication with the British allowed now, 
Timothy?" 

'Very little, Mr. Chairman, but Master Jonathan Cook, of 
the Committee of Safety, told me what he had gathered about the 
capture of Win and Hoppy and how they were held for ran- 



som." 



"Did Master Cook know anything about the terms of ran- 
som?" inquired Squire Knowles. 

"No, squire, he had heard no particulars. However, he told 
us that Win and Hoppy were being treated with great civility 
by Captain Raggett. They had been seen on deck in company 
with one of the officers and apparently on very friendly terms 
with him." 

'Very likely Captain Raggett appreciated highly that part 
of the whaleboat's cargo which was consigned to Master Thomas 
Crosby." This sally of Peter Walker caused even the town 
fathers to smile. 

'Well, Master Walker," said Timothy, "there is certainly 
a great scarcity of good refreshment in Provincetown. We 
treated Master Cook and his fellow-members of the committee to 
a little of what we had with us, and they told us that since the 

B2 



I II 8 1 21 I 

sailors had been deprived of shore leave there was nothing like 
it in the town." 

"Then the worthy citizens will be glad to see you again, 
Timothy," replied Peter. 

After this the discussion became general. It was felt that 
in the absence of definite information from the "Spencer" 
about Captain Raggett's terms there was no use in formulating 
plans to aid the captives. A false move might have the effect of 
further complicating the situation. It was evident that no help 
could be obtained from the distressed people of Provincetown. 
That unfortunate town had been the greatest sufferer from the 
depredations of the British during the Revolutionary struggle, 
when the majority of the inhabitants, finding the conditions in- 
tolerable, fled from the place and sought refuge further inland. 
At the conclusion of hostilities they returned to their ruined 
homes and valiantly set to work to regain their former prosper- 
ity. In this they succeeded. The straggling town near the tip- 
end of the Cape was once more a hive of industry, notable for 
its hardy and venturesome seamen, when the proclamation of 
the embargo by President Jefferson again set back the hands 
of the clock. From that time until the peace of 1815, it was the 
old story of ruined trade and constant suffering, their very lives 
dependent on the caprice of the haughty foe whose splendidly 
equipped warships lay within a few hundred yards of the town, 
and whose guns were ever ready to reduce the settlement to 
ruins on the slightest pretext. Still, the people hated to leave 
and they bravely bore their misfortunes, hoping and praying for 
the clay when the God of battles should once again decide the 
contest in favor of their beloved country. 

All this was well known to the gathering in the town house. 
In the midst of their own troubles, the people of Eastham deeply 
sympathized with their less fortunate compatriots of Province- 
town. 

33 



■ 1 1 8 1 21 I 

As the discussion continued, various schemes for getting into 
communication with the prisoners were proposed and rejected. 
Some were for boldly going to the "Spencer" and having the 
matter out with Raggett. The wiser heads opposed this. What 
was the use of running the risk of being added to the list of 
prisoners? There was nothing to prevent Raggett from holding 
the envoys and demanding ransom for their release. 

"I think that's a sensible view to take of it, Mr Chairman," 
said Peter Walker. "For my part, I'm very sure that Hoppy 
Mayo's brain is hard at work trying to devise means to outwit 
the British. You surely don't imagine that Hoppy 's nimble wit 
has failed him all of a sudden? Any man who succeeded in dis- 
posing of a spavined mare as a sound horse, and that to a min- 
ister of the Gospel, sleeps with one eye open when he's in the 
hands of the enemy!" 

The Rev. Philander Shaw, minister of the Congregational 
church, had, a few minutes previously, joined the meeting, and 
as he was the victim of Hoppy 's horse-trade, there was loud 
laughter at Peter's remark. The genial minister joined in the 
merriment and when it subsided, remarked goodhumoredly : 

"I'm afraid, Mr. Chairman, Master Walker thinks as little of 
my judgment of horseflesh as he does of my preaching." 

This was a gentle thrust at Peter's irregular attendance at 
church. Indeed, it was general knowledge that Master Walker 
had written some verses sarcastically insinuating that the min- 
isters of the period were in no way the equals of the great men 
whose cure of souls had been the glory of ancient Eastham. 

There was renewed laughter, this time at the expense of the 
redoubtable Peter. 

"Master Walker will have his joke, reverend sir," said 
Squire Harding Knowles with mock severity, "but we sadly want 
someone to enliven us at present."' 

"No offence. Squire Knowles," replied the minister heartily; 

34 



I I I 8 1 2 1 I 

"no offence at all. "With all his joking, it seems to me that Mas- 
ter Walker has given us a hint of great value in our present 
dilemma. Until we devise some means of communicating with 
our imprisoned neighbors, I think we may assume that they are 
not idle on their own behalf. Perhaps we had better wait 
yet awhile for tidings." 

"I agree with Mr Shaw," said Captain Heman Smith. "It 
seems natural to think that if Captain Raggett wants a ransom 
he must send word ashore to the prisoners' friends." 

"Aye, that's the logical way of looking at it," assented the 
chairman. "They certainly cannot be ransomed with whatever 
property Captain Raggett has already taken from them. The 
whaleboat and cargo are in his possession, but it seems he does 
not consider them as other than the spoils of war. We should 
hear from him soon unless he intends to hold our neighbors for 
some other purpose." 

"His intention may be to add them to his own crew," said 
Selectman Freeman. ' ' This practice is common with the British 
when they capture an American vessel, and it goes hard with the 
American seaman who refuses to obey; I have heard of flogging 
and other cruel punishments being inflicted on such unfortu- 
nates. ' ' 

"Hoppy Mayo and Win Knowles will never turn traitors to 
their own flag," asserted Peter Walker. 

This was greeted with approval. That either of the prison- 
ers should fight against his country, no matter what the penalty 
of refusal might be, was not to be thought of by any Eastham 
man. 

'•Don't sec what he wants them for, then," cried Obed Spar- 
row. "He has idle men enough on his hands already. Why, 
there's nothing for his crew to do now as there are no boats 
running since the whaleboat was taken." 

"Well, Neighbor Sparrow, that's very true; but if Captain 

35 



8 1 2C 



Raggett is holding our friends for any nltenor purpose, ™Bho£d 
very much like to know what that purpose is. How we are going 
to find out is the puzzle." As the chairman said this he looked 
around the hall as if seeking enlightenment. 

But there was none forthcoming. Every avenue through 
which information could be obtained seemed closed, and the hope- 
lessness of further effort was apparent to all. The discussion 
lagged and the people were on the point of dispersing when the 
strains of a fife were heard. The musician was still at a con- 
siderable distance from the town house, but Master Peter ^ alker 
had heard the tune before, so he said: _ 

"That's Phil the Fifer coming around again on his journey 
through the Cape. I wonder what trade the old man expects to 
pick up these hard times?" 

Then a sudden idea seemed to possess Peter and, jumping to 
his feet, he startled the meeting by exclaiming: ^ 

-By the Lord! I have it. "Why not send old Phil to Prov- 
incetown for information? He can get it if anyone can He is 
a great favorite with the crews of the warships. They buy his 
small wares and dance to his music. He has often told me what 
fr.e spenders they are when they have money. They think that 
he is not quite right in the head, but that's where old Phil tools 
them! You all know, neighbors, that the old pedler is true as 
steel to the cause. What do you say to the proposition, Mr. 

Chairman?" „ 

"Well, Peter," answered the chairman, "the idea looks all 

right to me, but would Phil care about the risk now that the 

British are getting aggressive?" _ >f 

"Phil will do it all right; I will be answerable for that, 
returned Peter. "He stops at my house overnight whenever he 
comes to Eastham. I know the old man thoroughly and I have 
a great admiration for his geniality and honesty, so he is always 
welcome. " 



36 



c 



]1 8 1 2C 



3 



"Of course, Peter," suggested Squire Knowles, "it would 
never do to have his errand talked about outside this meeting; 
the rumor might reach the British." 

"I quite agree with your view, squire, and I am sure that 
ii : we keep the matter secret, Phil will come out of the venture 
safely. If you leave the affair in my hands for the present, I 
can talk to the old man privately tonight and tell him how we 
are situated?" 

"We have the utmost confidence in your ability to deal with 
the problem, Master Walker, and I propose that you be em- 
powered to act as a committee of one with a request that you 
report progress at the earliest possible moment." 

The Rev. Mr. Shaw was loudly applauded as he concluded this 
warm tribute to his critic's diplomatic talent. 

The minister's motion was carried unanimously and the 
meeting adjourned. 

37 



CHAPTER VII. 
Phil the Fifer. 

The evening passed pleasantly at Master Peter "Walker's. 
Mistress Walker was glad to have the opportunity to get a fresh 
stock of needles and thread, and other little things which the 
pedler kept for sale. Phil was an old acquaintance. For many 
years he had been a welcome guest at the Walker homestead. 
In him Peter found a congenial spirit, and the neighbors were 
sure to come in to enjoy the old man's droll stories and listen to 
the stirring music of his fife. Phil was always ready to do his 
best and his popularity was unbounded with the young folks 
who had no sympathy with the puritanical idea that dancing was 
the invention of Satan. 

The general public knew very little of Phil's history. Only 
to Peter Walker had he confided the fact that, when a mere 
youth, he had come to this country from Ireland. He had been 
a "bound-man" in Pennsylvania years before the Revolution, but 
when the Continental army took the field, Phil Murphy had 
joined the patriot ranks and served through the war with credit. 
Then he became a wanderer in search of adventure, and, as he 
told Peter: "Bedad, I found plintyofit!" About the beginning 
of the century, he came to Boston, his only possessions being his 
beloved fife and a cheerful mind. He was getting old and un- 
fitted for hard work, so he took to the road as a pedler and 
eventually found his way to Cape Cod where his little wares 
were in demand and where he established a route. 

The people liked his pleasant ways and he was always wel- 
come to their firesides, having no permanent home of his own. 

Small of stature, with bright blue eyes and a dulcet brogue, 
Phil the Fifer, as he was commonly called, was still an active 
man notwithstanding his seventy years. 



I I I 8 1 9 1 ■ 

Late that night, long after the family had retired, Phil and 
Peter were engaged in discussing the feasibility of the mission 
to the "Spencer." 

As Peter had surmised, Phil was more than anxious to be of 
assistance to his good friends. There might be some difficulty 
in getting an interview with the prisoners, but he felt sure there 
would be no objection to his visiting the warship. 

"It's just like this, Masther Walker: the boys aboard the 
ship think old Phil is a kind of an omadhaun, as we call a 
simpleton in the old counthry. Captain Raggett has a fine crew 
of dacint min, an' many the shillin' they threw at the old pedler 
for his little goods. The officers is all gintlemin, an' there's only 
wan man aboard who behaves like an upstart of a fellow. He's 
a master's mate called Dunton. He thried some of his nasty 
ways on me, but I kep' my timper, thank God!" 

"Perhaps he may interfere with you again, Phil?" 

'Well, Masther Walker, if he does it won't upset me. You 
see, if I am to get this job done for you, it won't do for me 
to lose my timper whatever cause I get, will it?" 

"No, Phil, it won't. I know we can trust you, old friend, 
and I am proud that I told the meeting so. Not that any per- 
son doubted you, but you know these are troubled times, Phil, 
and the enemy is upon us; so most of us don't know which way 
to turn for help." 

"I know that well, sir, an' it would ill become me to refuse 
to do a small favor for the frinds who have always been good 
to old Phil, even if my heart an' soul wasn't with the cause." 

"You are well acquainted in Provincetown?" 

"Oh, fairly well, Masther Walker. Old Phil knows almost 
everybody on the Cape. There isn't much money in Province- 
town these times, but the good housekeepers have always a few 
pence for the needles an' thread. I'll borry a skiff from me 
frind John Whorf. He is fine man." 

39 



I I I 8 1 21 1 



<<■ 



: Yes, Phil; Master Whorf is one of the Committee of Safety 
there. Remember me to him ; he called at my shop about a month 
ago. He was on his way to Yarmouth and his horse wanted 
shoes. He told me all about the desperate state of affairs in 
his town." 

"There's one thing I should like to mintion, Masther "Walker. 
The min of Raggett's ship are the very divils to dhrink when 
they can get the stuff. Now that their shore lave has been 
stopped for some time past, they will have a ragin' thirst an' 
nothing to satisfy it. An', by the same token, they won't be in 
any good sperrits to talk much about their doin's. You know 
there's nothing to loosen a man's tongue like a dhrop o' the 
crather ! ' ' 

"It makes a fool of the best of us, Phil. HoAvever, I see 
what you mean and I agree with you that a little lubricant is 
essential. There isn't very much of anything in the town at pres- 
ent but Uriah Nickerson has a demijohn laid by for cases of 
sickness and I can get a quart to help you out." 

Phil smiled. "A quart isn't much among three hundred min, 
Masther Walker, but it will do first rate. There's one chap 
aboard that's a great frind o' mine. He's the boatswain an' 
he loves his ' gill, an ' whin he 's taken a dhrop or two he 's extra 
frindly. He's sure to know what's up an' I'll thry him with a 
taste o' Uriah's medicine." 

"All right, Phil, I'll have it for you in the morning. By the 
way, I'll send the horse with you as far as Truro. It will be safer 
for you to walk after you get there." 

'That's so, Masther Walker. 'Tis like puttin' a beggar on 
horseback to see old Thil the Fifer ridin'. I'm used to walkin' 
in my business an' the journey won't bother me." 

'We should like to hear from you as soon as possible, Phil." 

'Thin I should start airly. I could stable the horse at 

Truro, an' as I expect to be aboard the frigate tomorrow even- 

40 



I II 8 1 21 I 

in', I may be here the same night, or, at any rate, airly the next 



mornin'." 



"That will be quick work, Phil, considering the difficulty 
of your task and your age?" 

"Surely I'm not as young an' active as I ought be, Masther 
Walker, but this is work that must be done at once an' whin it's 
over, you'll admit that old Phil is no snail whin his f rinds want 
him to hurry." 

Peter impulsively put out his hand and grasped that of the 
old man. 

"By the Lord!" he exclaimed, "I wish there were more 
hearts of gold like yours, Phil the Fifer ! I have often won- 
dered how a man of your intelligence could be content with the 
humble occupation of a pedler. You must have come of good 
stock, Phil?" 

"No betther in the old County Kerry, Masther Walker, even 
if I do say it meself, that shouldn't. But that's not here or 
there now. Old Phil has made his bed an' he must lie on it; 
but there was a time whin there wasn't a smarter gorsoon in the 
Pinnsylvany Rifles than Phil Murphy! That winter at Valley 
Forge thried the best of us, but nobody could say that Phil was 
a grumbler." 

"I'm sure of that, old friend." 

"I'm thinkin', Masther Walker, that if I see aither of our 
f rinds on the frigate, it won't do for me to show the British that 
1 know thim." 

"Why, Phil, they will be sure to speak to you if they get 
a chance?" 

"I know that, but I must thry an' let the inimy believe 
that I never saw Captain Knowles or Captain Mayo before. 
'Twill be hard for me to do so, especially if the captains get 
ahead of any signal I may make to thim, but I may be able to 
manage it." 

41 



i I I 8 1 2 1 1 

"That's so. Hoppy is nimble-witted and it won't take much 
to make him understand your object in avoiding them. Use 
your own judgment, Phil." 

The arrangements for the journey to Provincetown having 
been perfected, conversation turned to the topics of the day. It 
was a period in which newspapers were scarce and few of them 
reached the remote villages of Cape Cod. News of the outside 
world was brought by traders and travelers who had occasion to 
visit Boston, and they sometimes thoughtfully purchased a copy 
of the Boston "Centinel" for their friends at home. This paper 
was eagerly read and passed from family to family, but, of 
course, the details of public events on the Cape were meagre, 
and many important happenings were never chronicled in the 
press. Men like Phil the Fifer, whose business took them into 
every household in the district, knew everything that was going 
on and they were always willing to spread the news wherever 
they went. 

Phil told his host many interesting stories of the march of 
events in the upper Cape towns. The attacks of the British war- 
ships on Falmouth were described and the narrator was loud in 
his praises of the gallantry displayed by the defenders under 
the command of Captain Weston Jenkins of the local militia. 
With martial ardor, the old man told the tale of how the com- 
mander of the British brig "Nimrod" demanded the surrender of 
the pieces of artillery which annoyed his vessel, and how Cap- 
tain Jenkins tauntingly replied: "Come and get them!" How 
the sick and non-combatants were removed to places of safety 
when the bombardment commenced, while the militia from the 
neighboring towns rushed to reinforce the resolute patriots of 
Falmouth. Then he told of the conditions at Ilyannis, Yarmouth 
and other places and kept Master Peter Walker awake until 
alter midnight. 

We leave old Phil on his way to Provincetown while we 
return to our friends on the "Spencer." 

42 



CHAPTER VIII. 
Raggett's Terms. 

Under the guidance of Lieutenant Fotheringay the prisoners 
were taken through the frigate. They expressed their admira- 
tion in unstinted language. Fotheringay told them that Raggett 
was a strict disciplinarian who insisted that his crew should 
always he in first class condition for work. He was unforgiving 
"when any of his men wilfully neglected duty; but when work 
was over and playtime arrived, he never interfered with the 
manner in which the seamen enjoyed themselves. He had 
closed his eyes to their frolics in Provincetown, where they 
sometimes made merry Avith great vigor, and now that shore 
leave was suspended he demanded implicit obedience to his 
order requiring special permission from himself for any of his 
crew to visit the town. 

To the prisoners all this emphasized the change of front on 
the British side. Raggett evidently meant what he said when he 
told them he was going to obey orders. Already the "Nymph" 
and the "Bulwark", of the squadron blockading Cape Cod bay, 
were watching the coast between Barnstable and Boston. The 
"Spencer" with her tenders would have charge of the towns on 
the lower Cape, Dennis, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, 
Truro and Provincetown. So much they gathered from the lieu- 
tenant's conversation, but beyond this they got no inkling of the 
enemy's plans. 

A summons from the captain brought them once 'more 
into the presence of that doughty warrior. His maimer to his 
captives was very agreeable, indeed, one might say cordial. He 
told them many anecdotes of the great Nelson, whom he spoke of 
with enthusiasm. lie gave a sailor's description of the battle of 
Trafalgar where the admiral died a hero's death, and he held the 






I II 8 1 21 I 

close attention of his hearers as he pictured the maneuvers of 
the opposing fleets on that memorable day. 

Though much interested in the captain's yarns, Hoppy and 
"Win could not help feeling anxious about his delay in 
broaching the subject of their ransom, but, of course, they could 
not very well hurry him to the point. They had an idea that 
Raggett was purposely avoiding the issue, and they knew they 
could best serve their own cause by patiently waiting until he 
thought the time was ripe for a declaration of his views on the 
matter. 

At length that time arrived. Captain Raggett produced a 
chart of Cape Cod bay and laid it on the table. 

"Now, men," he said, "I daresay you want to learn 
my terms? You will know very soon and I have great hopes that 
we can come to an agreement. In my opinion, you will get out 
of your predicament without much trouble, but that will depend 
altogether on yourselves. However, before we discuss the 
question of ransom I should like to ask you a few questions 
about this chart. You may answer or not, just as you please." 

The prisoners were somewhat surprised at this move. Then 
Captain Knowles replied : 

"I don't know that there is any great harm in answering 
any questions about the chart, Captain Raggett. I sup- 
pose there's nothing secret about it. Every shipmaster can get 
a chart of Cape Cod bay easily enough." 

"That's so," said Raggett, "and I'm glad you take such a 
sensible view of it. However, this chart is not clear in some 
particulars and I would like to have your opinion. So far as the 
deepwater section of the bay is concerned there is no difficulty 
in following it, but, as you very well know, almost every year 
there is a variation in the depth of water in the neighborhood 
of the bars and in the channels close inshore. Therefore, a 
chart five years old may require correction for those places." 

i4 



■ ' 1 8 1 21 I 

"Why, yes, Captain Raggett," cried Hoppy, "sometimes 
after a November gale whole chunks of the mainland disappear 
and what were cornfields become tidewater flats! If you're rely- 
ing on a chart five years old you'll have to go easy inshore." 

"That is my point exactly. Now, let's take the shore 
waters of your own town of Eastham. The flats are dry at low 
water for nearly a mile to seaward. Have there been any great 
changes in that locality in' recent years?" 

"Well, Captain Raggett," replied Hoppy, "there certainly 
have been changes. They dig clams now in some places where 
they harvested salt hay five years ago. Don't know that there's 
much difference on the outer edge of the flats, but there's no 
knowing, and wary skippers don 't . venture very far inshore. A 
fifty-ton lumber schooner got badly strained there three years 
ago." 

"Then it would not be safe for a large vessel? ' ; 
Hoppy laughed. "Excuse me for laughing, Captain Raggett, 
but if you are thinking of sailmg the "Spencer" in those 
waters, you run a fine chance of losing your ship!" 

"How near could the "Spencer" approach?" asked Raggett. 
"Not within a mile of the outer bar," answered Hoppy 
promptly. 

Raggett's disappointment was apparent. 'But the chart 
gives from two to ten fathoms?" 

"Well, Captain Raggett, that may be, and I don't deny that 
it is so in spots, but there's a lot of shoal places, though they 
may be known only to the local pilots. It's no place for a 
big ship like yours; though, of course, you are the best judge 
of that. However, you can easily settle the matter to your own 
satisfaction by surveying the place." 

"I may have to do that," said Raggett as he gave Hoppy 
a significant look. 

"Now," continued Raggett, "there's Orleans lying to the 

45 



I II 8 1 21 1 

west of Eastham, and Brewster still further west. Do the same 
conditions exist in the flats and sandbars off those townships?' 1 

''Yes, captain, those places are just as dangerous for large 
craft." 

"Thank you. The information which I have received from 
others practically coincides with what you have said, though 
you seem to exaggerate the dangers of the localities. However, 
I shall have to verify the soundings, and I think I have the 
proper man for the work." Again he gave Hoppy a meaning 
look. 

Hoppy knew full well what Raggett meant. He was, then, 
expected to act as pilot for the British and help them to 
destroy the lives and property of his kinsmen and neighbors! 
It required all his selfpossession to keep his outraged feelings in 
check, but he realized that it would be worse than useless to let 
Raggett suspect what he thought of the proposition, so he pre- 
tended ignorance of the British commander's purpose. 

'It shouldn't be hard for you to find a good man for the 
Work in your ship's company, Captain Raggett. Your tenders 
have been cruising in these waters for quite a long time and I 
suppose they know their way about." 

Raggett smiled. "I'm afraid," he said, "that my men have 
become better acquainted with the hospitalities of Provincetown 
than with the sandbars and shoals of the bay. As you are doubt- 
less aware, the operations on this station have been more like a 
picnic that warfare up to the present. I think I told you that 
such is the opinion of some very important personages in Lon- 
don, and, looking at the matter calmly, I am inclined to agree 
with their views. To be perfectly frank with you, men, I am 
going to state the terms of your ransom. You will not find 
them harsh. For the sum of three hundred dollars I agree to • 
let you have your whaleboat. That's a good bargain for you, 
isn't it?" 

46 



I I I 8 1 *> i i 



(a 



Three hundred dollars!" exclaimed Captain Knowles. 
Why, Captain Raggett, where are we to get all that money? 
We haven't three hundred cents in our possession!" 

'That's more than the boat and cargo are worth," put in 
Hoppy. 

"I'm afraid that's the best I can do for you," replied Rag- 
gett. "It is not much money, considered as prize-money to be 
distributed among a large number of men." 

"But how are we to raise the money, captain? We have no 
means of communicating with the shore, and even if we had, 
we should hesitate about asking our hard-pressed friends in 
Eastham to pay it. Money is pretty scarce nowadays." Captain 
Knowles looked despairingly at his fellow-prisoner as he said 
this. 

"You're right, Win," assented Hoppy; "there are few in 
Eastham now who have three hundred dollars to spare. There 
has been no steady business doing since this war commenced and 
it : s been hard work to collect taxes, even." 

"Have you no friends in Boston?" asked Raggett. 

"Why, yes, we have some good friends in Boston, I'm glad 
to say," responded Win; "but what's the good of that in our 
present position? We can't get: close enough to ask them, even 
ii we were sure to get the money." 

"Oh, that's easily managed. If I arrange for your journey 
to Boston, Captain Knowles, will you undertake to raise the 
money from your friends there and return to this ship with it on 
a prearranged date?" 

This was presenting a new view of the situation. Neither of 
the prisoners was prepared for it, and some moments elapsed 
before a reply was given. Then a sudden thought flashed across 
Hoppy 's mind. 

"I think you had better go, Win," he said. 'If Captain 
Raggett had made the offer to me, I might have accepted it. 

47 



c 



31 8 1 2C 



] 



You can get the money from old Abner Snow who keeps the 
tavern on the waterfront. He knows us well enough to trust 
us and he's a Cape Codder himself. I don't think you will for- 
get the last time we saw Abner 's place. 'Twas there we met 
that civil fellow who told us the coast was clear for the run 
home! Must have been a friend of yours, Captain Raggett, by 
the pleasant way he spoke of you!" 

"I'm very glad to know I have even one friend in Boston," 
said Raggett smilingly. "Lieutenant Fotheringay told me some- 
thing about the incident." 

"Why not go yourself, Hoppy?" asked Win. 

"If you will permit me," interposed Raggett, "I may say 
that I think you stand a better chance of being successful, Cap- 
tain Knowles. You are a born diplomat" — flatteringly — "and I 
also understand that you have relatives in Boston who are in 
prosperous circumstances, so that if the worthy Snow refuses to 
aid you, there is still a chance for you to borrow the money 
from your friends. I also confess I enjoy Captain Mayo's ready 
wit, and his presence aboard will enliven us during your ab- 
sence." 

This confirmed Hoppy 's suspicion that Raggett had an ul- 
terior motive in his proposition. They could certainly raise the 
three hundred dollars in Boston, but he could get it just as 
easily as Win. Why, then, was Raggett so anxious to keep him 
and let Win go? He remembered Raggett's meaning looks 
during the study of the chart, and his remark about having the 
:< proper man" in mind for pilot. Hoppy Mayo's alert mind was 
working hard now. In the matching of wits with his fellows, 
Hoppy had rarely come off second best, but this case was dif- 
ferent. To be pressed into the service of his country's enemies 
and to aid them in a campaign of destruction against all he held 
dear was a position from which his soul revolted. Alone in the 
hands of determined foes, he would be powerless to resist their 



48 



i ' 1 8 1 2 1 I 

demands. Posterity would class him with Benedict Arnold and 
the disgrace would lie on his family forever. Dartmoor, or 
even death, were preferable to this. 

"What do you say, Hoppy'" asked "Win anxiously. He felt 
uneasy at his companion's unusual silence. 

Captain Mayo looked at the British commander, but the 
latter met the Cape Codder's eye unflinchingly. Turning to 
Win, Hoppy said: 

"Yes, Win, I think Captain Raggett's plan is the best. I 
shall be all right until your return." 

"Then the matter is settled," said Raggett. "Captain 
Knowles, you will kindly stand ready to start for Boston tomor- 



row morning." 



49 



CHAPTER IX. 
The Prisoners Talk It Over. 

Before the prisoners retired to their quarters that night they 
discussed the situation earnestly. Hoppy had no doubt whatever 
that Raggett intended to use him as the "proper man" for the 
work of piloting the British tenders and barges in the shallow 
waters of the bay. He told his companion in misfortune that 
there was no use in outwardly resisting the plans of the British 
commander. 

"It's just like this, Win: Raggett knows that you will have 
no difficulty in getting that three hundred dollars in Boston 
and that you cannot put forward any excuses to the contrary. I 
don't think he would die of a broken heart if you never turned 
up with the money. What's such a small amount divided among 
his crew?" 

: 'It certainly doesn't look very large, Hoppy, but when he 
keeps adding to it all the time the total will amount to some- 
thing. He has started on his new policy, and 'tis hard to tell 
where it will all end. You know what we heard about his inten- 
tion to demand tribute from the towns?" 

"Supposing the towns refuse to pay tribute, what then?" 
'Well, Hoppy, I think that's rather a foolish question. Why, 
man, what can the unfortunate towns do but pay? You don't 
mean to tell me that they can defy the whole British squadron, 
do you?" 

'Why not?" demanded Hoppy fiercely. "Can't you see 
how the thing stands? Raggett won't take his ship into the 
shallow waters. He has no proper knowledge of the conditions 
just outside the bars, and if you were taking any notice you 
might have heard me purposely exaggerate the danger of trust- 
ing to his charts. He won't take any chances of getting 



I II 8 1 2 1 1 

stranded, I can tell you, and he will keep at a safe distance. 
Then, if he intends to attack the villages he must depend on 
his barges to land his forces." 

"And what's to prevent him from doing that?" 

"His common sense, man. Supposing he decides to land a 
strong force, and it must be pretty strong if our people put up 
any sort of a fight, he must do so at high water. Well, the 
flats extend for more than a mile to seaward and the landing 
party must make pretty good use of the time to be able to 
get away safely before the ebb catches the boats on the flats. 
Raggett has only about three hundred men on the "Spencer," 
and the "Nymph" and the "Bulwark" are not likely to leave 
their own stations to assist him, unless in case of great need. 
His landing party might number two hundred fighting men, but 
I doubt it. That would leave his ship pretty shorthanded in case 
of disaster to the barges. And why shouldn't they meet disas- 
ter? Are the men of Cape Cod going to imitate old Samoset and 
say once again ' Welcome, Englishmen!'? I don't believe it!" 

"But you must remember, Hoppy, that the people are very 
poorly equipped for a fight against the well-armed enemy? ' ; 

"I know that; but, as 1 pointed out just now, the flats will 
more than compensate for the difference in that way. There 
is too much risk about landing a large force and Raggett will 
not take it. If Eastham, Orleans and Brewster join forces to 
repel the invaders they will surely beat them." 

"I wish I could look at it in your way, Hoppy, but I can't. 
The "Spencer" could get close enough to destroy the salt works, 
anyway." 

"The salt works be damned! Good God, man! this is war, 
and something has to go. Her artillery can't do very much 
damage to the town which, after all, is only a sparsely settled 
place. She will be too far off shore for the range, though, of 
course, she's bound to do some injury to property. T tell you, 

51 



' ' 1 8 1 21 I 

Win, that Raggett will make a big show but he will not weaken 
his ship by detailing two-thirds of his crew for shore work. 
When he decides on doing it he will take care to have the other 
ships with him." 

Captain Knowles was a man of tried courage. He would 
not be found wanting when the test came, but his best judgment 
would not allow him to take Hoppy's view of the case. There 
was great truth in much of Hoppy's summing up, but to Win it 
appeared incredible that the outcome of any clash of arms could 
be otherwise than disastrous to the Americans. 

"It's all very well to say the salt works be damned, Hoppy, 
but I can tell you the owners of the works won't let their 
property be destroyed if they can save it by paying a reasonable 
sum for immunity. Then, it's not quite certain that Brewster 
and Orleans would be able to do much for Eastham." 

"Brewster has an artillery company, though it's not very 
well organized. Still, it has two pieces and they could be made 
useful if properly handled. There's one thing I'm very sure of; 
Orleans will put up a good fight if the British attack that town." 

"Yes, I heard Orleans means to fight. I fear it will be a 
useless sacrifice of life." 

"Well, Win, we had better wait a little longer and postpone 
the argument until we have more information on the subject. 
What's your idea about Raggett's proposal? Do you think he 
really desires to see you back with the money?" 

"Certainly I do." 

"Well, I don't. My opinion is that he wants to get rid of 
one of us. One is enough for his purpose and I have told you 
what that purpose is; so, Win, I don't expect to see you again 
while I'm on this ship." 

"He can't prevent me from returning with the money." 

"Oh, yes, he can. You can't reach the "Spencer" without 
his permission, and while he thinks he can use me he won't grant 
that permission." 

52 



I I I 8 1 2 1 ■ 

"Then you are going to act as his pilot?" 

"That's a hard way to put it, Win. It may be that he 
wants to correct his charts and in that case I shall be obliged to 
go with his surveying party. It won't help him very much, I 
can promise you. I have an idea of what's going to happen, 
but I may be mistaken. I shall have to trust to my wits in the 
matter; but there's one thing I can tell you right here, and I 
want you to bear it in mind: Hoppy Mayo will never turn 
traitor to his country, though for some time to come he must 
be trusted to play the game in his own way." 

"All right, Hoppy, I'll tell them what you said. There's 
nobody in Eastham will believe you to be a traitor." 

Win reached his hand and his comrade grasped it warmly. 

Next morning Captain Knowles was put on board the 
schooner. As the little craft made sail and started on her 
voyage, Hoppy waved farewell to his friend, more than ever 
convinced that he should not see him again on the "Spencer." 

Captain Raggett sent word to Hoppy that the latter could 
have the freedom of the ship provided he promised not to at- 
tempt to escape. He was also informed that orders had been 
given to supply him with clothing or anything else he required. 
Hoppy readily gave the promise and thanked the commander for 
his thoughtf ulness. 

As the day went on, Hoppy Mayo noticed that everybody on 
board the frigate seemed to be very busy. There was no inter- 
ference with his leisure and from his seat by one of the guns 
he was an interested observer of the movements of the nimble 
sailors as they jumped from place to place in obedience to the 
orders of the officers. So far as he could see, there was no oc- 
casion for all the bustle, but at that time he was not aware 
that this incessant training was Raggett's way of keeping his 
men in condition for service at a moment's notice. 

Hoppy 's usually buoyant spirits were depressed by the events 

53 



i 1 1 8 1 2 1 I 

of the day before and by the departure of his comrade. During 
the dinner hour he listlessly followed the movements of a small 
skiff that was zigzagging its way from the shore, its solitary 
occupant clumsily handling the oars. When the skiff came with- 
in hailing distance of the frigate the oarsman paused as if irres- 
olute about venturing nearer the warship. Soon the sound of 
music came over the waters and Hoppy started to his feet as he 
recognized the familiar notes of Phil the Fifer. The officer of 
the deck, who had been intently watching the skiff, laughed 
heartily, and if he had any anxiety as to the boatman's inten- 
tions it was entirely dispelled. Hoppy heard him remark to a 
brother officer: 

"That's the old pedler who amuses the crew with his droll 
sayings and his fife. He's a favorite with the captain, but I'm 
not sure that we can allow him on board now." 

In answer to his hail the skiff came alongside. Phil pulled 
off his old hat and cheerfully accosted the officer: 

"Bedad, Lieutenant Jameson, it's a cure for sore eyes to 
see your honor agin! An' what is all this throuble about that 
I can't enthertain me old customers any more with a tune on 
the old fife?" 

"We should be very glad to see you on deck, Phil, but the 
captain's orders are strict about admitting strangers aboard." 

"Sthrangers! Well, lieutenant, but that bates the divil. 
When was old Phil a sthranger among the fine min o' this ship, 
I'd like to know?" 

"Sorry, Phil, but it can't be helped this time." 
Hoppy Avas puzzled at all this and he came to the side to 
look on. Phil caught sight of him and giving him a significant 
wink, said: 

"Bedad, lieutenant, it seems to me that thim ordhers is 
aisily broken! That gintleman up there is a sthranger to me, 
anyway! I don't remimber ever bavin' seen him before, an' his 
uniform ain't that of the king of England!" 

54 



I II 8 1 21 I 

The officer smiled. "Oh, Phil, that's an American visitor 
who is spending a few days on board." 

"The Americans is a frindly people, sure enough, lieutenant, 
an' I have no doubt they injoy your company, only it's a 
mighty quare time to be showin' off how much they like you! 
You'll excuse me, sir," addressing Hoppy, "but might I ax what 
part o' the counthry you came from? Maybe you'd be wantin' 
some o' my little wares for your thrip?" 

By this time Hoppy could plainly see that old Phil was play- 
ing a deep game and that part of it was his desire to avoid an 
open acknowledgment of acquaintance with him; therefore, he 
answered : 

"I'm from Connecticut, my good man. Captain "Raggett 
will supply me with everything needful, so I don't think I re- 
quire anything from you." 

This seemed to amuse Lieutenant Jameson. "Captain 
Mayo," he said, "perhaps the old pedler has some little articles 
which you may require? If so, there can be no harm in your 
going over the side to inspect his stock. The orders are not to 
let strangers aboard, but T don't see anything objectionable in 
your examining his stock." 

Phil's heart beat fast now. He never expected such a 
chance as this! In a moment Hoppy was in the skiff and while 
he was pretending to examine the wares, Phil managed to con- 
vey to him the purpose of his visit. Hoppy was astonished and 
grateful for the tidings. As the pair made a great show 
about bargaining for needles and such things, he whispered how 
the case stood and asked Phil to tell his friends ashore not to 
lose faith in him even if some things appeared strange to them. 

It was all over in a few minutes. As Hoppy reached the 
deck with a few small articles, Phil the Fifer was profusely 
thanking Lieutenant Jameson for his kindness. 

"May God bless your honor, but it's yon that knows how to 

55 



■ n 8 1 2 1 I 

help a poor man! Thim Connecticut Yankees is hard to plaze, 
though. Now, I won't bother your honor any longer as I can't 
do any business with me good frinds aboard this time. Tell thim 
111 come agin. Goodby, lieutenant, and good luck!" 

Then the pedler turned the prow of his skiff shoreward, 
highly elated that he had succeeded in his mission. 

56 



CHAPTER- X. 
A Consultation. 

"What do you think of it, Fotheringay ? " asked Captain 
Raggett. 

"I think, sir, that Captain Mayo was right in saying the 
place is dangerous for the frigate. We certainly cannot afford 
to run any risks at present." 

Captain Raggett had great respect for the opinion of the 
young lieutenant and had invited him to the cabin for a consulta- 
tion on the situation. 

' ' This Mayo seems a shrewd fellow, Fotheringay, and I fancy 
he already suspects what I want him for." 

"Yes, sir, he is shrewd, and I have no doubt whatever that 
he has guessed your purpose. But I can assure you that he is 
a man highly respected by his neighbors for his integrity and 
courage and you may have great difficulty in bending him to 
your will." 

"You know the consequences of refusal on his part? Much 
as I dislike to do it, I shall have to transfer him to another ship 
where he will be obliged to take his chances in the forecastle 
and whatever rating on the ship's books his commander decides 
on. You are aware that this is frequently done with American 
prisoners and when they show a spirit of disobedience to their 
fate they are triced up and flogged. The "Grampus" has a 
rapscallion crew of jailbirds and pressed men, so Barclay is 
having daily use for the lash." 

"Yes, sir, we are lucky in having a picked crew on the 
"Spencer." 

"That's so. Mostly all the best men are engaged in the 
fleets off the French coast; but I had some influence with the 
admiral and used it to get a good crew for my ship. Some of 



I II 8 1 21 1 

them had served under me before. They are all right until they 
get foul of a cask of rum." 

I'm afraid, sir, if Captain Mayo gets into Barclay's hands 
there will be hard times for a man of his sturdy Americanism." 

"Aye, Mayo is of the stiff-necked breed that inhabits this 
region. And yet, he is of the purest English blood. I sometimes 
think these people must have just cause for their resentment 
against the mother country, but it wouldn't do for me to say so 
openly. I admire the man's pluck, and it would please me to 
do him a favor under happier circumstances; but, my dear Foth- 
eringay, all such kindly thoughts have no place in our present 
plans. I have got my orders to proceed vigorously against 
these people and I'm going to do it." 

"And we all know that Captain Raggett has never shirked 
his duty no matter how distasteful to his personal feelings that 
duty might be. But it must be particularly obnoxious in the 
present case, when he has to fight men of his own race. In 
no part of this continent, Captain Raggett, are the inhabitants 
of such pure English stock as they are on Cape Cod." 

"So I hear, Fotheringay. I am not very well posted in their 
history, myself; but, of course, I know that Provincetown was 
the first harbor made by the "Mayflower" and that the popula- 
tion of Cape Cod is largely descended from the first settlers." 

"The full story of the early settlers has yet to be written, 
sir. There has been little time for such work during the nearly 
two centuries that have elapsed since the "Mayflower's" voyage. 
Europe has been in a state of almost constant warfare, and the 
American colonies of Britain were engaged in the effort to estab- 
lish a settled government and to protect themselves from the 
savage aborigines. The mother country was neglectful of her 
exiled children, her attention being entirely directed to the pro- 
tection of her own shores from the assaults of her foes in 
Europe. Consequently, much ignorance of conditions in America 

58 



I I I 8 1 2 1 I 

prevailed, and it was not until the colonists revolted and won 
their independence that Britain realized how much she had lost." 

"Why, Fotheringay, you talk like a statesman! "We never 
studied such subjects when I was your age. "We were sent to 
sea when we reached fourteen and our learning was pretty lim- 
ited. After that we had to do the best we could. I regret to 
say that I neglected my opportunities and you see the result — I 
have to depend on youngsters like you for information- on 
matters with which every officer should be familiar!" 

"If you will permit me to say so, Captain Raggett, I don't 
think this lack of historical knowledge on your part has caused 
England to feel less pride in the career of the gallant seaman 
who has kept her flag flying through many a hard-fought 
fight." 

"Thank you, Fotheringay; thank you, my lad. Old Dick 
Raggett has done his best for his king and country according to 
the measure of his ability, even though some of the young bloods 
at the Admiralty don't seem to think he's fit for this blockad- 
ing service ! ' ' 

"Now," he continued, "I feel somewhat interested in these 
people of Cape Cod, and you may help me to understand them 
better. I notice your friends, Captains Knowles and Mayo, speak 
excellent English for men in their station of life?" 

"That is a characteristic of the people, Captain Raggett. 
The first settlers were men of unusual intelligence and, when 
you consider the age in which they lived, of some education. 
They were keen students of the Bible ; in fact, it was their only 
book and their language was modeled on its style: Then, their 
ministers were men of great learning and they exercised much 
influence in secular as well as in religious affairs. Their word 
was law with their flocks and it is not improbable that _ the 
people paid them the compliment of imitation in their habit ot 
conversing in good English." 

59 



■ ' 1 8 1 21 I 

"Why did these first settlers leave England?" 
"The primary reason was that their religious belief was an- 
tagonistic to the established church. They did not believe in the 
establishment, and they formed a society for the advancement of 
their own ideas. For this they were persecuted and fled to Hol- 
land where, after a residence of some years, they decided to 
cross the ocean in search of a new home." 

"Oh, they were for freedom of conscience, eh? Their 
descendants don't follow them in that respect, Fotheringay. Why, 
in this very town of Provincetown there is at present open war 
between the Congregationalists and the Methodists ! The Meth- 
odists are newcomers, and the adherents of the old order resent 
their presence. Are they not practising here the tactics against 
which their forefathers rebelled in England?" 

The humor of the situation appealed to the lieutenant and 
he laughingly answered: 

"That, indeed, seems to be the case, sir. It must certainly 
be admitted that the era of perfect religious toleration has not 
yet arrived. However, we English are not in a position to throw 
stones at the Cape Codders. Our own laws dealing with his 
majesty's Catholic subjects are no credit to our enlightenment." 
"I quite agree with you, Fotheringay, and I hope we may 
live to see the day when every man can freely worship God as 
his conscience dictates. Creeds should matter little when a com- 
mon danger threatens a people. I must say, however, that I am 
surprised to learn of intolerance in this young land of America. 
In old Europe we are the slaves of tradition and suspicion, and 
reform is slow, but the same thing does not apply to the New 
World where there's a chance for all to start on the same level." 
After some further conversation of this kind, they resumed 
the discussion of the prospective operations. 

"I shall have to ask tribute from all the towns, and I don't 
mean to be hard on them; but they must pay, if only as evidence 

60 






' ' 1 8 1 21 I 

to convince London that we are doing something. I know they 
are in a bad state financially but that's their lookout." 

"In case they refuse, Captain Raggett, what are you going to 
do?" 

Captain Raggett's expression hardened. "They dare not re- 
fuse, Fotheringay. The salt works along the shore can easily be 
destroyed by our guns, and as salt-making is the principal indus- 
try the people will think a long time before they invite its 
destruction. We can throw shots into the villages, but I shall 
not resort to such extreme measures until I am forced to do so." 

"Brewster has an artillery company, I understand, sir, and it 
may do some damage to a landing party?" 

"There will be no landing party, Fotheringay, unless we get 
reinforcements. I have been considering that point and I have 
come to the conclusion that these accursed flats are the greatest 
ally of the Cape Codders. Now, I have made up my mind to 
send the schooner on a surveying cruise in the bay and I pur- 
pose to have your friend Mayo act as pilot. Dunton will be the 
officer in charge of the schooner." 

"I foresee trouble, Captain Raggett. Dunton heartily hates 
all Americans and there is sure to be a clash. You know Dun- 
ton's surly disposition?" 

"Yes; but he's a good man in his place. He's sour because 
so many younger men have got ahead of him in the service. I 
don't admire his surliness, but he's just the man I want for this 
surveying business. The fact that he has got a Yankee pilot 
will make him suspicious, and with such a shrewd antagonist as 
Mayo he will require to be on the alert. I look for good results 
from the expedition." 

"It will take some time to survey so much shore line." 

"Oh, there's no hurry about it. However, it should not take 
over a week if the weather continues fine. I intend to take the 
frigate for a practice cruise off Boston, but with a erew of 

61 



i 1 1 8 1 21 1 

about twenty Dunton should be able to protect himself during 
my absence." 

"That should be an ample force, sir. By the way, have you 
informed Captain Mayo of your purpose?" 

"No, Fotheringay; but, as I said, I fancy he knows it. 
However, you will be good enough to convey it to him officially.' 5 

"Then you don't expect to see Captain Knowles again, sir?" 

"Unless he tries to run another cargo to Eastham; then I 
may have the pleasure, Fotheringay. For the present, we will 
not bother ourselves about his return." 

"Very well, sir; I shall now deliver your orders to Captain 
Mayo." 

62 



CHAPTER XT, 

An Argument. 

The trusty pedler made no unnecessary delay on his return 
journey from Provincetown. The sandy road somewhat retarded 
his progress, but Master Walker's horse was a good one and 
needed little urging. There were, of course, some necessary ex- 
planations to be made to the Provincetown committee, and the 
worthy citizens who had charge of affairs in that place were 
much disturbed when they got confirmation of the rumor that 
the British were fully determined to assume the offensive in 
earnest. So far as Provincetown was directly concerned, Rag- 
gett's change of front would not materially add to the troubles 
of the inhabitants, who were already completely at the enemy's 
mercy. But for their neighbors and friends in the other towns 
of the lower Cape, Master Jonathan Cook and his colleagues 
were deeply concerned. 

"You will tell them at Eastham, Phil," said the chairman, 
"that we regret our inability to be of any assistance to them. 
Our own poor town is in a sad plight and I fear me if this war 
continues much longer we shall have a repetition of the exodus 
of Revolutionary times." 

"An' sure I will, Master Cook, an' sorry I am to see this 
fine town in such a bad state. 'Twas mighty aisy for a poor 
man to make a dacint livin' here a few years ago when the 
fishin' was bringin' loads o' money to the people. But now, 
God help us! the good days are gone an' nobody has any money 
more than they want for thimselves." 

"That's so, Phil. However, we hear that our privateers are 
doing great damage to the enemy's commerce, and when John 
Bull finds his trade in danger he will want the war stopped. 

With many expressions of sympathy, they bade the pedler 
Godspeed. 






' ' i 8 1 21 1 

When Peter "Walker heard Phil's story he lost no time in in- 
forming the Committee of Safety. It was too late that evening 
to call a public meeting, but there was a crowded attendance at 
Crosby's tavern and Phil the Fifer was eagerly questioned re- 
garding his interview with Hoppy. 

"I reckon Hoppy felt rather miserable, Phil? How did he 
like the idea of acting as pilot?" asked Obed Sparrow. 

"To tell you the truth, Master Sparrow," replied Phil, 
"Captain Mayo didn't like the position; but as to bein' miser- 
able, well, I don't think it's his nature to feel so at any time." 

"It's a wonder that British officer did not suspect some- 
thing." 

"Oh, Lieutenant Jameson is a rale gintleman, an' he knows, 
besides, that old Phil wouldn't desave him!" 

The old man's innocent expression as he said this caused gen- 
eral laughter. 

"If he should hear the result of your visit, Phil, he won't 
be so confiding the next time," said Squire Knowles. 

"Faith, an' I'm sure he won't, squire. But I'm thinkin' it 
will be a long time before the lieutenant will see me agin. This 
war will soon be over, plaze God, an' the foreigners will sail 
away an' lave the people o' Cape Cod in paice wance more." 

"What makes you think so, Phil?" 

"Well, squire, I heard some talk in Yarmouth about the 
work o' the American privateers among the British ships, an' 
Master Cook o' Provincetown told me the same story. 'Tis said 
that John Bull is grumbling about the loss he's sufferin' an' that 
the big merchants o' London won't stand it much longer. Our 
frind John is like the rest of us, he hates to get touched in the 
pocket." 

"So Hoppy is going as pilot," said Captain Jared Higgins; 
"that's about the last thing I'd expect from Hoppy Mayo!" 

"As I told you," replied Phil to this, "Captain Mayo said 

64 



I II 8 1 2 1 I 

that some people might think it quare that he agreed to it; but 
you needn't fear about him, Captain Higgins; he'll never tarn 
thraitor. "Whatever he has in his mind to do I can't tell you, 
but from the ltttle he told me 1 can see that his mind is workin' 
hard at some plan to get the betther o' the inimy. All I know- 
is that he wanted you to have faith in him, an' any wan who 
knows Captain Mayo will find that enough." 

" That's right, Phil; I firmly believe Hoppy will outwit 
them!" cried Peter Walker. 

"This war will beggar the people of Cape Cod, anyway," 
growled Captain Jared. "If the President took Governor 
Strong's advice there would be no war." 

This was Captain Jared 's great point in his antagonism to 
the war policy of the national government. His prolonged idle- 
ness was having a bad effect on his temper and the gallant old 
seaman was always ready and willing to argue at any length in 
support of his views. Not many cared to enter the lists with the 
captain; but Peter Walker, a strong supporter of the adminis- 
tration and Jared 's foremost opponent, remarked: 

"The President has more sense than to listen to such people 
as Cale Strong, Jared, and there's lots of people on Cape Cod 
who don't think much of the same Cale." 

"Is that so, Peter?" Captain Jared turned fiercely to where 
Peter sat in his accustomed place. "Everybody knows that you 
can't lose much by the war. What is it to you if the British 
destroy the salt works? You took good care to sell your share 
in the salt business to Ed. Clark, though I'm not saying that 
you did so on account of the war. Still, if a man has so little 
to lose as you have in that way, it don't seem right for him to 
find fault with those who suffer most." 

Peter's goodhumor was proof against this assault. 'Well, 
Jared," he replied, "I think I gave Ed. quite a good bargain 
in the matter, and he seemed to be satisfied. What I want to 

65 



i 1 1 8 1 2 1 I 

show you is this: Strong received 53 votes at the last election 
and Dexter got 31. That was the vote of Eastham and it shows 
that there are thirty voters besides myself who agree with the 
President of the United States as against Governor Strong." 

"I'm willing to bet that most of the thirty owe you money 
for horseshoeing!" retorted Captain Jared, "and, anyway, Peter, 
'tis easy to tell who they are; they are your cronies who spend 
most of their time in your shop listening to your rhymes mak- 
ing fun of the neighbors, and enjoying it, too. The fools don't 
know that you'll be after themselves soon!" 

Eoars of laughter greeted this thrust at Peter and Obed 
Sparrow cried : 

"That's right. Captain Jared! you are the man to down 
Peter." 

Jared gave Obed a withering glance. "Good Lord, Obed 
Sparrow!" he exclaimed, "to think of your putting in your oar 
when you just echo every word that comes from Peter's mouth! 
I'll give Peter the credit of being able to twist you and your 
fellows about his little finger when he wants your votes; but 
by George, that's no reason why you should interfere in this ar- 
gument. ' ' 

Obed looked crestfallen at this rebuke. Peter rallied to his 
support. 

"Why, Jared, Obed is one of the most independent men in 
this town, and you know it. Obed's vote isn't for sale like some 
others we know that followed the Strong party, and I don't mean 
you by that. Captain Higgins." 

Obed was grateful for this testimony to his integrity. He 
plucked up courage to return to the fray. 

"Thank you, Master Walker. I suppose Captain Jared also 
believes that you made the Orleans voters go against Strong! 
That town gave 101 for Dexter and only 21 for Strong, [f all the 
people there who went against Cale Strong owe you money you 
must have a lot of names on your books!' 

66 



> ? 



i 1 1 8 1 2 1 1 

"Don't talk to me about Orleans, Obed Sparrow," cried 
Captain Jared; "they are the most pig-headed of all the war 
party. Simeon Kingman is a firebrand and he is ably assisted 
by John Kenrick." 

"If Squire Kingman and Master John Kenrick are firebrands, 
Captain Jared, they are backed by their townsmen in the firing. 
They have always been leading men in their town and they 
wouldn't be if they didn't prove themselves worthy." 

"I'm not saying anything against their characters, Obed. 
They are friends of mine though I don't agree with their politics. 
They think they can defy the British fleet!. Any fool -should 
know that you can't beat off a heavily armed force with a few 
old muskets, and, so far as I know, that's about all the arms 
they have." 

"Then you don't believe in fighting, Captain Jared?' 

"Obed, you are a young man and yon have proved 
yourself a brave man. I have no right to find fault with 
you for asking that question, but in my young days we were 
taught to believe that men whose gray beards betokened years 
of experience behind them had seen some of the ups and downs 
of life and could fairly advise us in our troubles. I am close to 
my seventieth year and in my time I have seen bloody deeds 
done afloat and ashore. Like you, at one time I thought the 
quick answer and the ready blow most became a man, and even 
yet I think there are occasions when there is no other course 
open to a man of honor. It was on such an occasion that I got 
this wound, Obed ; but the Barbary pirate who inflicted it never 
lived to harm anybody else." 

There was intense silence as Captain Jared opened his shirt 
front and displayed a terrible scar across his chest. 

"When you ask me if I believe in fighting, Obed, I can call 
this to witness, though the occasion doesn't often arise when a 
man doubts my word. If your uncle Jethro could come to life 

(37 



r 



31 8 1 2C 



] 



he might tell you of that terrible night in the Straits of Gib- 
raltar when the pirates boarded us and five stalwart Yankees 
gave their lives in defence of their ship." 

The crowd was deeply stirred by the old man's words and 
Obed Sparrow impulsively shouted: 

"By the Lord, Captain Jared! I humbly ask your pardon. 
I never doubted your willingness to fight, but my question ap- 
plied to the present trouble. I'm sorry I said anything about it 
now." 

"That's all right, my lad," answered Captain -Tared; "all I 
ask is that if some of us believe the unfortunate people of these 
villages can get out of their troubles without bloodshed and 
utter ruin we shall not be considered any less anxious to uphold 
the honor of the flag than those who advocate sterner work 
against the enemy. For my own part, I am willing to abide by 
whatever the Committee of Safety and the people decide on." 

' ' Bravo, Captain Jared ! ' ' exclaimed Peter Walker. ' ' That 's 
the proper way to look at it. And now, friends, I think it's time 
to go home, especially as Neighbor Crosby is doing very little 
business these hard times ! ' ' 

"Very little, indeed, Master Walker, but I'm expecting some- 
thing overland soon." 

"Glad to hear it, Master Crosby. Good night!" 

68. 



CHAPTER XII. 
On Board the Schooner. 

Fotheringay, in his kindly way, conveyed the captain's orders 
to Hoppy and strongly advised the Cape Codder to make the best 
of a difficult situation. 

"I feel sure, Captain Mayo, that your patriotism urges you. 
to refuse Captain Raggett's ultimatum; but, after all, you are 
not asked to take arms against your compatriots. My interpreta- 
tion of your orders is that your duty will be to assist Dunton in 
keeping the schooner clear of the shoals during the surveying 
cruise." 

"I'm not any too well read in the law, lieutenant, but I can 
plainly see that my assistance to the enemy in war time looks ■ 
pretty much like treason to my country. I have heard Uncle 
Jabez Rich tell the story of Benedict Arnold too often not to 
know something of a traitor's fate. All the same, lieutenant, 
'tis very kind of you to try and make it easy for me." 

"Captain Raggett is determined to have his way in this 
matter, Captain Mayo, and it pains me to think of your position 
should you refuse to carry out his orders. I have heard some 
stories of the fearful punishments suffered by recalcitrant Amer- 
ican prisoners and T know Barclay of the "Grampus" does not 
mince matters when dealing with such unfortunates." 

"Aye," said Hoppy, "I know the poor devils are badly 
treated. Dunton seems to know that we are to be shipmates; he 
passed me a short time ago and there was a triumphant leer on 
his countenance. I shouldn't call him a handsome man at the 
best of times, but the look he favored me with would become 
the devil himself ! ' ' 

"Yes, Captain Mayo, Dunton has got orders to be ready for 
the cruise. I regret that you should be under his command, but 



' i i 8 1 2 1 I 

I trust you will see the uselessness of running foul of him." 

"Oh, you can trust me for that, lieutenant. I shall make it 
a point to steer clear of him as much as I can. Anyway, as the 
schooner will have a crew of twenty it looks like a poor chance 
for me in case of trouble ! ' ' 

"The crew will treat you all right. They are all good men 
and especially detailed for this business on account of their good 
characters. Like all man-o '-war 's men they like their frolic and 
their grog, but Dunton is not very popular and he is sure to 
limit the strong waters." 

"Then his popularity won't increase, Mr. Fotheringay. When 
do we start?" 

"The frigate sails tomorrow for a practice cruise in Massa- 
chusetts bay and it is probable that the schooner will leave at 
the same time." 

"All right, Mr. Fotheringay; you can tell Captain Raggett 
that I shall do my best to help Dunton in the survey. Between 
lis we should be able to find out the dangerous places, and 
they are many. I wonder what Win Knowles thinks of all this!" 

"Captain Knowles will be very busy getting that ransom 
money," replied the lieutenant smilingly. 

"He'll be in a devil of a state of mind when he finds that 
he can't get back to the frigate! However, I gave him a broad 
hint that his journey would do ms no good, but Win was always 
one of those fellows that you can't convince when he's made up 
his mind that his own ideas are the best." 

Fotheringay reported Hoppy's decision to the commander 
and the latter expressed his satisfaction at the Cape Codder's 
acquiescence in the project. Next morning, the frigate passed oat 
of Provincetown harbor and headed for the northwest. Soon 
after, the schooner's anchor was weighed and the memorable 
cruise began. 

It was a lovely morning. Before the gentle breeze the 

70' 






' i i 8 1 21 I 

schooner took her leisurely way across Cape Cod hay and in the 
direction of Barnstable. As he stood on her deck, Hoppy Mayo 
was a prey, to conflicting thoughts. He little dreamed that at the 
finish of the adventure in which he was an unwilling participant 
he should occupy a niche in the temple of fame, or that his name 
should be handed down through the years as that of a man who 
had not hesitated in the face of fearful odds to match his strat- 
egy against the foes of his country and win undying renown by 
an act of individual daring which has rarely been equaled in our 
naval annals. No such thought crossed his mind; but, on the 
contrary, he felt already the opprobrium which would be his lot 
when history should record the fact that he had aided the 
enemies of the fatherland. True, he had not abandoned all hope ; 
his keen mind had been at work and he had reasoned it out that 
there was still a chance left. This chance was a remote one, 
but stranger things had occurred and fortune might yet favor 
him. 

As the schooner crept across the bay, Hoppy 's gaze ranged 
along the low-lying shores of old Cape Cod. The long stretches 
of white strand glistened . in the sunlight and the tiny hillocks, 
known as the dunes, seemed to be engaged in a brave effort to 
raise themselves above the tops of the sea pines and the stunted 
oaks of the neighboring groves. Billingsgate Point broke the 
sameness of the coastline and guarded the harbor of Wellfleet, 
the only important haven south of Provincetown, the other land- 
ing-places being small creeks and inlets. The high tide concealed 
the treacherous flats so much dreaded by the British commander, 
and the placid surface of the sea revealed no evidence of the 
dangerous sandbars on which many a heedless mariner had come 
to grief. Within the encircling arm of the Cape, almost at the 
point where it abruptly turns northward, the pilot could see his 
native village of Eastham, and the sight added to his bitterness 
Of soul. Cape Cod towns were then, and, indeed, are at the 

71 



I I I 8 1 21 I 

present day, straggling places altogether different from the old- 
world idea of a town. They are properly townships, each about 
six miles in length and, on the lower Cape, from Brewster to 
Provincetown, the width of each township varies with the Cape 
itself, being bounded on either side by the ocean and the bay, 
narrowing from about three miles at Orleans to a good deal less 
at Truro and Provincetown. There is no crowding of habitations 
in the villages. Land is cheap and the people believe in plenty 
of elbow room. 

For the first time since the outbreak of hostilities, Hoppy 
felt inclined to coincide with the views of Jared Higgins, 
Winslow Knowles and other leaders of the anti-war party. It 
was easy enough to join in the patriotic indignation aroused by 
the acts of the British, but it was one thing to wax eloquent on 
the question at Crosby's and another to be helpless in the hands 
of the enemy, forced to obey the orders of a bully like Dunton 
and obliged to play a part, the very thought of which brought 
the blush of shame to his cheek. There, a few miles away, were 
'his young barbarians all at play." There were his neighbors, 
the playmates of his childhood and the companions of his youth 
and manhood. Peace, for the moment, hovered over the scene 
and in the absence of the warships there appeared nothing likely 
to disturb the seeming tranquility of the smiling land. But what 
of the morrow? The thunder of the enemy's guns would bring 
terror to helpless women and children and many a happy home 
might suffer the loss of its brave defenders. Ruined rooftree 
and bloody corpse would testify to Britannia's might, and all 
because the cradle-land of his race with cruel arrogance refused 
to the youthful and still weak American nation the rights which 
every free people must maintain or perish. So absorbed was the 
captive in these reflections that he did not notice the approach 
of Dunton until the latter 's voice brought him to with a start. 
'Taking in the scenery, Mayo? One would think you had 

72 



i 11 8 1 21 I 

never seen it before by the attention you seem to be giving it." 

Hoppy took no notice of the sneering tone in which this was 
said. He had made up his mind to stand a lot from Dunton, but 
every insult would be stored in his memory and when the proper 
time arrived the Englishman would be amply repaid in a manner 
thoroughly satisfactory to the American. 

"It looks kind of pretty at this distance, Mr Dunton." 

"Seems to me you have a queer idea of prettiness, Mayo. A 
few heaps of sand and a few miserable patches of trees don't 
make a pretty scene, to my mind. How sensible people can be 
content to live on such a sandbar is more than I can understand." 

"Yet, Mr. Dunton, the men who first settled here were Eng- 
lishmen and their descendants are still the owners of the land." 

"That may be so, Mayo, but I have heard the first English 
in these parts were a set of cranks who left England because 
they could not get along with their own people." 

"Then there must be quite a lot of that crankiness left in 
the blood," answered Hoppy slyly. "The present inhabitants 
have no great welcome for their friends from the other side." 

"Any Englishman who would leave his own country for this 
savage place must have something wrong with him. You have no 
aristocracy here, Mayo, and any country without an aristocracy 
can never rank as a great nation. What would England be 
without her aristocracy?" 

Hoppy was surprised to find Dunton in such a conversational 
mood and gave him every encouragement to talk. 

"What good does an aristocracy do for England, Mr. Dun- 
ton?" 

"Of course you Yankees can't be expected to understand 
the matter, Mayo ; but, for one thing, will you tell me how Eng- 
land could officer her army and navy unless she had an aristoc- 
racy to furnish the men for the positions?" 

"I certainly can't answer that question, Mr. Dunton, know- 
ing so very little about your ways over there, but I have heard 

73 



i ' 1 8 1 21 I 

Uncle Jabez Rich say that a title does not make a man an aris- 
tocrat." 

"Whoever this Rich is, he's a fool, Mayo. What's a title for 
unless it be for the purpose of placing a man in the aristocratic 
class?" 

"Then you wouldn't consider such a man as George Wash- 
ington an aristocrat?" 

Dunton laughed heartily at this question. "No, Mayo, 
indeed I wouldn't, although I have heard that your great man 
was a cut above the common people. He would probably rank 
as a small squire with us, or as a gentleman farmer. Lafayette 
was an aristocrat, though only a French one." 

"By George, Mr. Dunton, I see my education has been sadly 
neglected ! All I can say is that Washington fought pretty well 
considering he wasn't an aristocrat!" 

"He couldn't have won without Lafayette's help, and that 
proves that an aristocrat makes the best commanding officer. 
Then he had Baron Steuben, another aristocrat, to drill his men." 

'You will excuse my ignorance, Mr. Dunton, but wasn't Lord 
Cornwallis an aristocrat and wasn't the British army crowded 
with aristocratic officers?" 

"Yes, that's true, but the men they commanded were only a 
meazly set of Hessian mercenaries." 

"Oh, I see," said Hoppy as if he were convinced. 

The schooner was now within a few miles of Nobseusset 
Point. Soundings were taken frequently but the results showed 
no immediate danger. Dunton, however, decided to cast anchor 
and he informed Hoppy thai if the wind were favorable later he 
should survey to the eastward and anchor for the night off 
Brewster. But the wind became easterly, continuing so all day, 
and as evening approached, Dunton gave orders to make all 
snug for the night. So ended the first day of the cruise and 
Hoppy was thankful that his commanding officer had conducted 
himself fairly well so far. 

74 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Anxious Hours Ashore. 

When the frigate and the schooner left Provincetown Master 
Jonathan Cook immediately sent messengers with the news to the 
other towns. The unwelcome tidings were received with mixed 
feelings by the people of Eastham. Members of the war party 
argued that this move was to be expected any day, and, now 
that it had come, they saw no reason why it should cause any 
surprise or add to the already desperate condition of the inhab- 
itants. Things couldn't be much worse and they should be ready 
to face the inevitable like men and go down with colors flying. 
In this attitude the fighting faction was sustained by the bold 
declaration of the Orleans people that under no circumstances 
would that town surrender without a fight. On the other hand, 
there were many men of great influence in the councils of the 
community who favored compromise with the enemy. The 
patriotism and courage of these leaders were not open to ques- 
tion. Their devotion to the country's cause had been tested on 
many occasions and they had earned the right to popular leader- 
ship by their wisdom aDd integrity in the administration of pub- 
lic affairs in times of peace. The safety of the lives and property 
of the inhabitants was to them the first consideration and the 
most pressing one. When the national government was unable 
to come to their assistance, they argued, what chance had the 
little towns of Cape Cod against the powerful enemy at their 
doors? If, by the payment of a sum of money, they could pur- 
chase immunity, would not such a course be better than to offer 
a feeble resistance and invite inevitable slaughter? They could 
in the course of time make up for the present loss of money, but 
the gallant lives sacrificed in a futile struggle could never be 
recalled. There were hopes that the war would soon be over. 
The wailing of the British merchants for their ships and cargoes 



I II 8 1 21 I 

captured by the American privateers was having an effect on the 
British government, and the lesson of the Revolution was not 
yet forgotten in England. There was no dishonor in seeking the 
best terms they could get in their plight. 

The Committee of Safety held an all-day session, open to all 
the voters, but there seemed no prospect of reaching an agree- 
ment between the opposing factions. It was apparent, however, 
that the fighting element was weakening. The stern logic of 
the situation was calmly put before the meeting by Squire 
Harding Knowles and his weighty words were listened to with 
the respect which all the utterances of this worthy citizen com- 
manded from his fellow-townsmen. 

"It seems to me, sirs," said the squire, "that it is, as yet, 
somewhat early to cast a final vote on the question. The 
frigate has left Provincetown and sailed northward, which course 
will take her from our immediate neighborhood. Though we are 
convinced that Captain Raggett means to harry us, it is strange 
that he should postpone taking action when everything appears 
to favor him in attacking us just at present." 

"The schooner is cruising off Brewster, squire," remarked 
Timothy Cole, "and as Hoppy Mayo is supposed to be on board 
of her, it is very likely Raggett will wait until Hoppy has been 
forced to make known the dangerous places off the bars." 

"The schooner doesn't appear to be making much headway; 
perhaps Hoppy has already made them acquainted with one of 
the dangerous places by running the craft aground," suggested 
Peter Walker. 

Master Walker's suggestion caused a laugh. "The wind has 
not been favorable for her eastward voyage, Master Walker," 
replied Squire Knowles. 

"Well, anyhow," broke in Obed Sparrow, "Raggett is evi- 
dently afraid of the bars and flats or he wouldn't take so much" 
trouble to safeguard his ship." 

'He doesn't trust his charts and I don't blame him," said 

76 



I I I 8 1 2 1 I 



Captain Jared. "The British didn't have much use for Cape Cod 
bay since the Revolution, and there's many a change in the coast- 
line since then." 

A chuckle from Peter AValker caused all eyes to turn in 
his direction. The meeting was sadly in want of a cheerful 
note amid the general gloom, but the members of the Committee 
of Safety viewed with disfavor what they considered ill-timed 
merriment on the part of the town wit. 

"If you will excuse me for saying so, Master "Walker," said 
the chairman severely, "I think this is no time for jesting." 
Then to the meeting: "We have serious work before us, sirs, 
and I trust you will give us the benefit of your undivided atten- 
tion in the solution of our difficulties." 

"I am, indeed, very sorry, Mr. Chairman," answered Master 
Walker in a tone of deep respect, "but it is not because of want 
of sympathy with you and your colleagues on the Committee of 
Safety that I smiled. We cannot all view the situation from the 
same standpoint, and while I believe every man present has a 
desire to do his best for the town and people, still, I don't think 
we should make arrangements for a funeral until we have the 
corpse laid out. I decline to believe that God Almighty has en- 
tirely deserted us. We are at present bothering ourselves with 
a matter which may never grow to anything more serious than 
it now is. Who can tell how this schooner's cruise will end? I 
have an idea that with one of our bravest citizens aboard, this 
little schooner is destined to go through some stirring experi- 
ences before Hoppy Mayo is finished with her. I apologize for 
smiling, but I couldn't help it when I thought of the British 
ignorance of the bars and dependence on Hoppy Mayo for 
knowledge of them! Take my word for it, they will know all 
about them to their cost before Hoppy resigns his present job !" 

"Let us hope that our good neighbor, Captain Mayo, will 

come out of his adventure unscathed," said Squire Knowles. 

"He's in a close corner, squire, but if it were left to me to 

77 



I II 8 1 2 1 1 

choose a man from our town capable of fighting the enemy inch 
by inch in any game they like to play, I think I couldn't make a 
better choice than Hoppy." 

Peter's words evoked loud applause from the meeting. 

"Have you heard from Brewster, Mr. Chairman?" asked 
the Rev Mr Shaw. 

"I have, sir. Major Elijah Cobb of that town informs me 
that the people are much divided on the question of offering 
resistance in case of a demand for tribute. Their artillery com- 
pany is not in first-class condition and the gallant major is 
afraid that the two small pieces they have will make a poor 
showing against the well-armed enemy. There is much capital 
invested in the salt-making industry there and the proprietors of 
the works are naturally anxious to avoid a bombardment. They 
are willing to pay a reasonable sum for immunity." 

'They are in the same fix as ourselves," remarked Captain 
Heman Smith. 

"Conditions are practically the same in all the towns from 
Brewster to Provincetown. The exception, if we may so term it, 
is Orleans," said the chairman. "There is a majority in that 
town in favor of armed resistance. I have discussed the matter 
with Squire Kingman and Major Henry Knowles and they tell me 
the die is cast — Orleans will fight to the end." 

"Orleans is showing great pluck for a young town," said 
Captain Smith. "Only seventeen years ago it was the South 
Precinct of Eastham; now it outranks the mother town as a 
military centre." 

"Eastham has lost a lot of its former importance, Captain 
Smith, but the people of Orleans are still our own flesh and 
blood," was the chairman's comment on this. 

Then Timothy Cole made a suggestion: "I think, Mr. Chair- 
man, we had better postpone a vote until we have an oppor- 
tunity to judge what the intentions of the schooner are. She 
will probably work her way eastward tomorrow and we can all 
take a hand at watching her movements." 

78 



I 1 1 8 1 21 I 

"That seems to be the sensible thing to do, Timothy," as- 
sented the chairman. 

Timothy's suggestion was received with favor by the meet- 
ing and the session was closed. 

That night Captain Jared Higgins sat up late. The gallant 
skipper was busy, but any person observing the task he was 
engaged in would find it hard to reconcile it with his prom- 
inence as an advocate of peace. His family had retired for the 
night before his labors commenced. The man of peace took an 
old firelock from the hooks where it had rested untouched for 
many a year and laid it gently on the table. Then he reached 
for the ancient cutlass which hung beside the chimney and 
placed it alongside the gun. From the drawer of an immense 
cupboard he brought forth two large horse pistols and added 
them to the weapons on the table. After this, he lighted an 
extra candle and stood back, grimly surveying the array of 
warlike gear. 

A knock at the door caused Captain Jared to start. Who 
could be around at this time of night ? A second knock and the 
sound of a friendly voice asking if he were in, brought him to 
the door which he opened to admit his adversary of the tavern, 
Obed Sparrow. 

"I hope T haven't put you out any, Captain Jared? The 
fact is, I felt so much ashamed of that evening at Crosby's that 
I thought it right to come and tell you so. I have been down at 
Peter's and on my way home I saw your light. I hope there 
are no hard feelings left, Captain Jared?" 

The worthy captain felt his position rather uncomfortable 
just at that moment. Obed could not fail to notice the lethal 
weapons on the table and would surely wonder why the man of 
peace, Jared Higgins, had brought them forth for inspection. 

"Don't talk about it, Obed; no hard feelings at all, my lad. 
These are ticklish times, Obed, and the slowest of us is apt to 
feel the strain on his temper. Sit down and smoke a pipe." 

79 



I II 8 1 2 1 I 

Obed's eye settled on the table. He certainly was surprised 
and showed it. 

'By George, Captain Jared, but that's a queer sight to see 
on the table of a man who hates fighting as you do!" he ex- 
claimed. 

'Well, Obed," said the captain confusedly, "I just thought 
I'd have a look at the old kit of fighting tools which I used 
during the Eevolution. Kind o' seemed to me that they wanted 
cleaning." 

'You don't mean to say that you are ever going to use them 
again, Captain Jared?" 

Captain Jared was a man of courage and he required all of it 
to admit to Obed Sparrow the real reason of the display on 
the table. But he was equal to the emergency. 

"Obed, my lad," answered the captain, without a note of 
apology in his voice, "as you know, I am in favor of making 
the best terms possible with the British in view of our being 
unable to fight them with any prospect of success. I stick to 
that opinion still, and I want to know if you, a sensible man, 
don't think me right when you see before you the kind of 
weapons we have to oppose the first-class arms of the enemy? 
The cutlass, I admit, is nothing the worse for wear; there is 
good steel in it and it is not unacquainted with British blood. 
The old musket, too, in its day was true to its work, but for 
thirty years it has been on the hooks and I'm afraid its useful 
days are over. The pistols might still give a good account of 
themselves at close quarters, but they have been out of action 
since the night the Barbary pirates boarded us, so, I daresay, 
they want a lot of brightening up. Bad as these weapons are, 
Obed, I doubt if any person in Eastham has better ones. And 
yet, the hotheads of this town are shouting for combat! Why, 
man, it's just plain suicide!" 

The old man's earnestness had its effect on Obed. He was 

80 



i 1 1 8 1 21 I 

silent for a few moments and in his heart he acknowledged that 
Captain Jared had spoken truth. 

"But, Captain Jared, you knew the condition of your 
weapons; why did you take them out tonight?" , 

Captain Jared drew himself to his full height as he replied: 

"I will tell you why, Obed Sparrow. This, my friend, is a 
free country, even though this section of it is at present sorely 
pressed by our old enemy. The will of the people is the 
supreme power in the land and the Constitution of the United 
States provides a way for the expression of that will. We may 
disagree with the decision arrived at, but, as patriotic citizens, 
we are bound to support the majority. In all public questions 
the same spirit should be apparent. Now, the people of Eastham 
are striving to come to a decision as to the best means of sav- 
ing their town. Some want to fight; others are for compromise. 
I am one of the latter party. We do not know what the verdict 
will be, but whatever it is, we must abide by it as one man. I 
took down my old weapons tonight and was preparing to fix them 
as well as I could so that I should be found prepared for the 
conflict in case the people decide to face the enemy sword in 
hand. That, Obed, is the reason you see those things on the 
table." 

Obed gazed at the old man in speechless admiration. After 
a long time, he said solemnly: "Captain Jared, you make me 
ashamed of myself." 

"No, my lad, there's nothing to be ashamed of. You are 
entitled to your own opinion on these matters, but one should 
never forget that there are always two sides to every question, 
a fact which many of our neighbors seem to forget." 

"Now, Obed,'*' he continued, "I must ask you as a favor not 
to talk about what you've seen and heard here tonight." 

"All right, Captain Jared. And now I must be gomg, and 
many thanks for your confidence and advice. Good night, Cap- 
tain Jared !" 

"Good night, Obed, and goad luck!" 

SI 



CHAPTER XIV. 
Twenty-Three to One. 

The absence of wind kept the schooner at anchor off Brew- 
ster for two days. During this time Hoppy Mayo avoided a 
clash with Dunton, though the latter 's surliness was increased 
by his enforced inactivity. The frigate was expected back any 
moment now and Dnnton knew Captain Raggett would be dis- 
pleased with the meagre results of the schooner's cruise if she 
were obliged to remain in idleness off Brewster. However, there 
was no help for it, and unless a favorable breeze came up the 
best the surveying party could do would be to send a small boat 
as far eastward as Orleans creek, a distance of about two miles. 
Further than this Dunton decided not to risk his men. His 
naturally suspicious temperament caused him to imagine all sorts 
of traps laid for him by the accursed Yankees who, he well 
knew, were watching his every movement from the shore. 

On the evening of the second day, the aspect of the sky 
betokened a change of weather. The atmosphere was very still 
and the sun went down in a blaze of blood-red radiance. 
Hoppy was tranquilly smoking his pipe after supper when Dnnton 
approached and said: 

'Looks like a change, Mayo? I don't remember having 
seen such a sunset since 1 came to this coast." 

The American had seen many such sunsets and he knew their 
meaning. After a keen look at the steel-blue cloud that was 
showing up over the spot where the sun had disappeared, he 
answered the officer. 

'Yes, Mr. Dunton, it certainly looks as if we were in for one 
of our summer tempests. I don't like the look of that cloud." 
'There is not a breath of air at present, Mayo." 

: 'No, sir; that is one of the signs of a tempest in this local- 



i 1 1 8 1 21 I 

ity. It may not come up until midnight, but we are going to 
have it before tomorrow morning." 

"This is not very safe holding ground in case of a blow," 
said Dunton somewhat anxiously. 

"That's so, Mr. Dunton." 

"Well, I'm going below, Mayo, and I want you to remain on 
deck and watch for a puff that may enable us to get into a 
better anchorage." 

"Very good, sir; I shall call you when it comes." 

After Dunton went below Hoppy felt inclined to dance a jig 
on the deck. Perhaps, after all, his expectations would be ful- 
filled? Was not this tempest the one thing wanting to hasten 
the success of the scheme which his wily brain had fashioned 
during the days of his captivity on the schooner? Twenty-three 
to one were the odds against him up to this, but with a roaring 
blow from the northwest as an ally he felt as if he had more 
than a fighting chance. One. blast from the trumpet of the Lord 
would open the floodgates of the heavens and the pilot's unerr- 
ing eye had read the message of promise written in the evening 
sky! 

Two junior officers, three seamen and Hoppy made up the 
watch on deck. One of the seamen, a chap named Jackson, was 
especially friendly with the pilot and had a great contempt for 
Dunton. Jackson was a typical old salt; a fine seaman who 
had spent the greater part of his life in the navy, but he had 
reached the limit of promotion when he got his rating as able 
seaman. His fondness for grog had kept him back, though he 
would not admit the impeachment, preferring to put the blame 
on his want of influence with such officers as Dunton who, he 
confided to Hoppy, had a man at their mercy if they took a dis- 
like to him. It was now quite dark and Hoppy, unseen by the 
officers, managed to have a few words with Jackson. 

"I guess you're getting about sick of the calm, Jackson? 
Looks like a change, though." 

83 



i i t 8 1 21 I 

"Yes, mate," replied Jackson, "I am. I'm sick of the whole 

d d business. There ain't no glory an' there ain't no prize 

money in this here war. Settin' British sailors to such work as 
ketchin' rowboats an' fishin' schooners an' then makin' head- 
quarters in a town that ain't got a decent grogshop ain't wot 
we was used to in the navy." 

" 'Tis certainly poor work for brave men, Jackson." 

"That it is," assented Jackson vehemently. 

"Well, Jackson, as the commanding officer has ordered me 
to remain on deck to watch with you, I don't see why we 
shouldn't be as comfortable as we can make ourselves. What 
do you say to this?" Hoppy produced a flask of rum. 

"Wot do I say to it, eh"? Wot I say is this: If that son 
of a gun aft don't come on deck an' ketch us, I'd like to jine 
you all right!" 

"No fear of that, Jackson; he won't come on deck until I 
call him. Help yourself!" 

"After you, mate; I ain't forgot my manners." 

"Here's luck, Jackson!" 

"Same to you, my hearty, an' many of 'em!" 

Then the gallant tar took his turn at the flask. Lovingly 
he held the generous liquor to his lips and quenched his thirst 
with a long drink. 

"Blest if it ain't mighty good of you, mate!" said Jackson 
gratefully. "That fellow aft don't know how to treat men, an' 
there's a lot o' growlin' among the crew." 

"That's a wonder, Jackson, and there's no reason why ho 
should be stingy about the grog. There's enough of it aboard." 

' ' Then he 's a d d liar ! ' ' hissed Jackson. ' ' He sent word 

to the focsle that the supply o' rum aboard was small an' that 
the allowance must be cut down!" 

"Of course, Jackson, it isn't my place to interfere, and per- 
haps I was wrony in mentioning the matter?" 






si 



■ 1 1 8 1 2 1 I 

"Oh, don't you fret about your doin' wrong, mate. You've 
done right, an' by the Lord Harry, when I tell some o' them 
about his meanness an' lyin', there'll be hell to pay! There's 
old Bill Brown will be hoppin' about it. Only yesterday, old Bill 
says to me: 'Damme,' says Bill, 'I've been threatenin' to desert 
ever since we kern on this here station but I've been held back 

'cause I hated to leave the old flag. But, by G ,' (Bill's a 

orful swearer) 'if this feller deals out short allowance o' grog, 
I'm finished with King George!' " 

"It's a shame, Jackson. Don't tell any of the men that I 
have given you a drink. Dunton would be sure to hear of it 
and that would be the end of the game. I know where there's 
a good supply stowed away and I can get at it; so, if you keep 
the matter to yourself, I may be able to let you have a good 
drink occasionally." 

"All right, my hearty; you can trust me with a secret. 
Fact of it is, mate, the crew don't think anything the worse o' 
you for bein' a Yank. They know Dunton 's down on you, but 
he's obliged to keep a civil tongue just noAV. Old Dick Raggett 
has given him orders to treat you decent. " 

"I thought there was something strange about his civility, 
Jackson, and I'm much obliged to you for telling me the reason.- 
What do you say to another swallow?" 

Jackson had* no objection at all, so he took a copious 
draught which put him in high spirits. 

Hoppy again warned him to be silent about the rum and 

went aft. 

The stillness of the atmosphere continued and the night 
was intensely dark. From his station Hoppy closely watched 
the western sky. The deluge would soon be upon them and 
already he noticed faint streaks of lightning near the horizon. 
Everything seemed to favor him. He had secured the goodwill 
of Jackson and would be able to use him when the right moment 

85 



■ n 8 1 21 I 

arrived. The watch officers, also seeing the lightning, asked him 
if he thought it advisable to call Dunton 's attention to it, but 
Hoppy replied that his orders were not to call the commander 
until there were signs of a breeze. 

"It's no use waking him, Mr. Jenkins. If we're going to 
run for better holding ground we must wait for wind, and we 
shan't have any for some time yet." 

"Very well, Mayo; bat if a sudden squall should strike us, 
Mr. Dunton won't be pleased to be below." 

"There will be no sudden squall, Mr. Jenkins. These sum- 
mer tempests don't come up like that. The lightning is far off 
yet and, anyway, we can't get any steerage way on her until 
we get some wind." 

This appeared to satisfy the young men and they left 
Hoppy to his cogitations. 

When half an hour had passed, Dunton came on deck. He 
was evidently ill at ease and could not remain below. His eye 
caught the gleaming shafts of lightning to the westward and he 
knew that the tempest predicted by the pilot would be a furious 
one. 

"The wind still seems to be shy, Mayo?" 
"Oh, it's coming, all right, Mr. Dunton, but you won't feel 
it for another hour. The lightning still hugs the horizon." 

"It will mean a night on deck for all hands. I think you 
had better turn in for a rest, Mayo; I shall want you when the 
storm strikes us." 

"Very good, sir, and thank you for your consideration." 
In accordance with Raggett's orders Hoppy 's berth avms in 
the cabin with the officers. Dunton dared not object to this 
though he didn't like the idea of having the prisoner established 
in his quarters. 

Hoppy went below but lie did not turn in. Sleep was not 
in his program that night. Making sure that he was unobserved. 

s.; 



I II 8 1 9 i ■ 

he made a cautious but thorough search of the cabin, paying 
particular attention to Dunton 's berth. In the midst of his in- 
vestigations he heard Dunton calling for him to come on deck 
and he knew by the trampling of feet above him that the longed- 
for breeze had come. With a smile he obeyed the commander's 
call. 

There was bustle everywhere on deck. Dunton was shouting 
orders and while some of the men were getting the anchor 
aboard others were busy at the sails. A crash of thunder 
greeted the pilot's appearance on the scene. Though the breeze 
was still gentle, it was gathering strength every moment and 
soon the schooner would feel its full force. 

"This is your business, pilot," said Dunton. "I want to get 
the schooner into a good anchorage and I ^depend on you to 
show me where that is." 

"Aye, aye, sir," cried Hoppy; "we must run her under the 
lee of Billingsgate Point! That's about as safe as any place in 
this nor 'wester." 

Under a storm jib and close-reefed foresail the little craft 
was headed for the Point. The lightning was now vivid and 
the crashing thunder was deafening. The long rollers from the 
ocean were breaking into white crests and the boom of the sea 
on the sandbars was heard at intervals through the elemental 
fury of the heavens. The rain fell in torrents and the wind 
increased to a gale which drove the schooner through the seeth- 
ing waters with tremendous force and would have overwhelmed 
her were it not for the splendid seamanship displayed by Hoppy 
Mayo. There was then no lighthouse on Billingsgate Point to 
guide them and the darkness of the night added to the terrors 
of the storm, but the pilot assured Dunton that he could make 
the anchorage all right, though he could not even then guaran- 
tee that the schooner would be out of danger. 

The distance they had to run was about eight miles. When 

87 



■ 1 1 8 1 21 I 

Hoppy's calculations led him to believe that they were nearing 
the Point, he brought the schooner to the wind and ordered the 
anchor overboard. The strain on the stout cable was fearful but 
it held, and though the vessel was battered on all sides by the 
rollers she swung to her anchor in apparent safety for the 
moment. 

There was not much said during all this time, for the simple 
reason that the shrieking gale and the general turmoil made it 
difficult for any one to be heard, and the few orders given 
had to be shouted from man to man until the proper person 
was reached, but Hoppy conveyed to Dunton that this was the 
best he could do and that they must take their chances in this 
spot as long as the cable held and the gale continued. 

The reader may wonder why the Cape Codder took such 
pains to bring the schooner to a place of comparative safety, 
but it must be kept in mind that Hoppy had no desire to risk 
his life by leaving the situation in charge of the British who 
knew nothing of the dangers of the locality ; and besides, 
everything was working in favor of a triumphant conclusion to 
the scheme which was uppermost in his mind. The storm had 
altered his plans in some particulars, but it had improved his 
chances wonderfully and, indeed, the hardy pilot inwardly ex- 
ulted when he felt assured that there would be no change in the 
weather until far into the night. 

88 



CHAPTER XV. 

Quits ! 

There was no rest that night for the men on hoard the 
schooner. The gale continued with unabated fury, momentarily 
threatening destruction to the vessel, and Dunton knew that if 
the cable broke all hands would be required at once to try and 
work her off the Wellfleet shore, which was under their lee. 
The darkness and the absence of guiding lights on the land 
made him uncertain of his position, though a cast of the lead 
showed a safe depth of water. 

To add to his discomfort, Dunton was aware that, through 
an oversight, the schooner had only one large anchor to depend 
on. It may be said that Hoppy Mayo also knew that there was 
but one anchor fit for the occasion, but, for reasons of his own, 
he suffered no anxiety on that point. 

The pilot felt that the supreme hour of his life was at hand. 
He had faith in himself and in the justness of his cause. He re- 
fused to entertain the thought that the Arbiter of all things 
would decide against him in his struggle with his foes; but, 
whatever the outcome, he was determined to meet the end un- 
dauntedly as became a true American sailor. 

Dunton shouted through the storm: 

"It will be high water at two o'clock, Mayo; there may be 
a change of weather on the ebb?' 1 

"I hope so, Mr. Dunton, and I believe there will be some 
abatement of the wind at half tide. This storm seems to be a 
double-decker; that last crash of thunder shows there's more 

behind it." 

Then a big wave struck the vessel and she shivered at the 
blow. Some of the hands were thrown on the deck and narrowly 
escaped being washed overboard. 



» n 8 1 21 I 

"By George, Mr. Dunton!" cried Hoppy, "that was a bad 
one! It's a wonder to me how that cable stands the strain. 
Shouldn't be surprised if it went under another blow like that 
last one!" 

The same thought was in Dunton 's mind and he could not 
conceal his anxiety. 

"I suppose you know, Mayo, that we haven't another 
anchor fit to hold her in this weather?" 

"By the Lord! you don't say so? Then it's a mighty poor 
show if we lose this one." 

"Is there no creek or small harbor on this cursed coast where 
we could take refuge?" 

Hoppy expected the question and he was prepared with an 
answer. After a pause he said: 

"Well, Mr. Dunton, there's nothing to leeward that you 
could call a harbor, but there's a small inlet to the south of us 
and if the cable snaps our only chance will be to run for it." 

"But how are you to find it in this darkness?" 

"It will soon be dawn, Mr. Dunton; in about an hour's 
time, I should say. If we're lucky enough to hold on till then 
we may make it. Once over the outer bar we shall be safe." 

Dunton had to be satisfied with this, though the prospect 
was a poor one. He asked Hoppy how they were to moor the 
schooner in case they lost the heavy anchor? The pilot told 
him that there would be smooth water inside the outer bar and 
that a light anchor would do. 

Sea after sea kept pounding the vessel. As the time was 
near for decisive action, Hoppy suggested to Dunton that it 
would be well to pay out a few more fathoms of cable. 

"It will ease her a bit, Mr. Dunton; I'll make my way for- 
ward and see that it runs out all right." 

Dunton agreed. Hoppy groped his way to the bow where 
he crouched unobserved in the gloom. Dunton gave the order to 

90 



I II 8 1 21 I 

pay out, but just then a curious thing happened. Hoppy drew 
his keen knife from its sheath and slashed the stout rope in 
such a manner that he knew it would soon part. On his way 
aft he managed to have a few words with Jackson. 

The night was drawing to a close. The first faint streaks of 
dawn were appearing and the pilot drew Dunton's attention to 
them: 

"Day is coming, Mr. Dunton; I think there's a slight break 
in the gale." 

And so it seemed. There was a perceptible lessening of the 
schooner's motion and Dunton felt relieved. 

Suddenly a shout that the cable had parted arose and for 
some time the utmost confusion prevailed. The vessel fell off 
before the wind which had shifted a point to the north. 

"Our only chance is to run for it, Mr. Dunton," cried 
Hoppy. "I think we had better make for the inlet, though it 
must be shallow water on the outer bar now!" 

The storm jib was set and the schooner plunged forward, 
Hoppy at the wheel. It was now sufficiently clear to distinguish 
the shore. The appearance of the sky denoted a change near 
though the gale was still strong. 

Hoppy held her head in the direction of what he called the 
inlet. It could not be much of an inlet, was Dunton's thought, 
for as far as the eye could range along shore there was nothing 
but a stretch of surf-beaten beach. 

"Not much of a harbor, Mayo?" 

"You will see it better in a short time, Mr. Dunton." 

Onward raced the schooner and the sea was surely getting 
smoother as she approached the land. When about half a mile 
from it, Hoppy ran her right into the wind's eye and with a 
shock the little craft stood still. 

"What's that for, Mayo?" demanded Dunton suspiciously. 

"It means, Mr. Dunton," replied Hoppy coolly, "that we are 
aground on the outer bar." 

91 



I I I 8 1 21 I 

"Then what are we going to do now?" 

"We were a bit too late to catch enough water for crossing. 
"We must now wait for the next tide to enable us to get off." 

"But what's going to happen meanwhile?" 

"The schooner will be all right where she is," replied the 
pilot. "However, I should advise you to send your men below, 
Mr. Dunton, so that the people on shore may not get suspicious 
at seeing such a large crew." 

As the vessel was stuck fast in the sand there seemed no 
alternative but to follow Hoppy 's advice ; so, reluctantly, Dunton 
ordered the men below. Hoppy caught Jackson's eye and that 
worthy winked significantly. The convivial tar waved his hand 
in salute as he followed his mates below. Dnnton and his two 
subordinate officers remained on deck with the pilot. 

The storm was almost over and the British commander cursed 
his bad luck in not having been able to hold on to his anchor. 
Here, he was in a bad predicament, held fast on the treacherous 
flats and obliged to wait for hours until the flood tide floated 
the schooner. The hated Yankees ashore would soon discover 
his plight and, perhaps, muster sufficient force to seize his 
vessel, making prisoners of all on board. The gloomy prospect 
affected Dunton 's nerves and he longed to vent his spleen on 
the pilot, but he had no evidence whatever that the latter had 
not acted in good faith. 

As the daylight got stronger a few men were observed on 
the beach. Hoppy knew that they were the forerunners of the 
crowd which would soon be on the scene. 

The tide was ebbing fast and the schooner would soon be 
high and dry on the flats. Then the pilot must strike the final 
blow on which he depended for victory. He was not afraid of 
the result. There had been no setback to his plans up to the 
present and he felt confident that within the hour Dunton and 
his men would be prisoners of war. 

!>2 



I II 8 1 2 1 I 

The schooner, feeling the want of the supporting tide, 
heeled over. Dunton on the quarterdeck was dividing his atten- 
tion between the increasing crowd on the beach and the move- 
ments of the pilot. The latter seemed to be examining the 
brass four pounder with great curiosity. To Dunton it looked 
as if Hoppy had it in his mind to train the piece on the beach, 
but that idea vanished quickly when he saw the bold Cape Cod- 
der deliberately spike the gun ! ,.. 

"Treason, by G !" he shouted as he made a rush for- 
ward. Hoppy gave the spike a clinching blow and turned on 
the officer. 

"Stand back there, Dunton!" he cried fiercely. "Stand back 
there ! and keep a civil tongue in your mouth, you d — d swab ! ' ' 
Hoppy had snatched a boarding pike from the rack and Dun- 
ton paused irresolutely before the weapon. 
"Halt!" cried the American. 

Dunton faced him. The officer was no coward, but the 
suddenness of the whole thing was disconcerting and he was 
puzzled how to proceed. 

"This vessel is American property, Dunton; she now reverts 
to her rightful owners!" 

Dunton did not reply. He looked at Jenkins and the latter 
disappeared into the cabin. Hoppy laughed mockingly as the 
junior reappeared looking decidedly crestfallen. 

"Your pistols are not in your writing case, sir." 
This was too much for Dunton. His features were dis- 
torted with passion and he hurled a volley of vile language at 
the American. 

"Avast there, you swab!" roared Hoppy; "another man so 
near death as you 'are would be saying his prayers instead of 
using filthy talk!" 

"All hands, ahoy!" screamed Dunton. 

"Aye, you may call them, my bold fellow, but they couldn't 
hear even Gabriel's trumpet now!" 

93 



I I I 8 1 21 I 

And so it was. Hoppy had told Jackson where to find the 
cask of rum in the hold and that gallant seaman had tapped it 
with a gimlet, inviting his messmates to partake, which they 
did with gusto. They were worn out from the long vigil through 
the night and copious libations of the fiery liquor soon stupefied 
them. They lay like dead men in the hold. 

The baffled officer turned on his subordinates, "Where are 
your pistols?" he demanded. 

"They can't be found, sir," answered Jenkins. 

Then Hoppy enlightened him. "You need not worry about 
your pistols, Dunton ; they are in safe keeping. And now, I 'm 
going to be busy for a few minutes and I want you to be a 
good boy until I have time to attend to your troubles." 

Near the mainmast there was a large chest containing arms. 
It was locked, but Hoppy smashed it open with an axe and 
started to throw the muskets and cutlasses overboard. This 
made Dunton almost insanely furious. Calling on his officers to 
help he rushed at Hoppy who whipped out a pistol which he 
leveled at the advancing Englishman. 

"Another step and you are a dead man!" he thundered. 
"And you, Jenkins and Thomson, stand back! You are decent 
fellows and I don't want to kill you, but, by the Almighty, if 
you don't stay quiet, I'll have you all three buried in Yankee 
soil tomorrow!" 

The assailants drew back. Hoppy opened his jacket and 
displayed an array of pistols stuck in his belt. 

"These are your pistols," said he, "and I may tell you later 
how I got them; but, for the present, you must be satisfied to 
know that they are all loaded and that makes more than a bul- 
let apiece for you. If you don't believe me, watch this!" 

He fired and the bullet struck the deck at Dunton 's feet. 

"I can afford to waste one shot," he continued, "but it is 
the only one that will be wasted if you don't keep quiet!" 

He then finished the work of throwing the arms into the sea. 

"That's a good job satisfactorily done. Now I have a few 

94 



I II 8 1 21 I 

words to say, Dunton, and when you hear them yon will know 
how we stand. Yon and your men are my prisoners. The 
schooner is my prize. I have no desire to treat you harshly, 
though you must feel that I owe you nothing in the way of civ- 
ility. My people, as you can see, are now in force on the beach, 
and when the flats are dry, as they will be in a short time, I 
shall deliver you to the proper authorities in Eastham. How- 
ever, I want you to know that I have had no help from any of 
your men in this business. They obliged me by getting drunk, 
and you have yourself to blame for that. If you hadn't de- 
frauded them of their proper allowance of grog they might be 
sober now! Captain Raggett treated me decently and for his 
sake I shall see that you have nothing to complain of ashore. 
Now you understand?" 

"You're a d d traitor and you'll suffer for this when 

the frigate returns ! ' ' cried Dunton venomously. 

"That reminds me, Dunton, of what you said when we had 
that little conversation at Provincetown. 'No back talk from 
prisoners,' I think you remarked? As to being a traitor," here 
the American's eyes .flashed and his tone became hard, "well, 
that's according to the way you look at it. A traitor to what? 
Why, man, you show your stupidity by saying so! You thought 
because I made no fuss about becoming your pilot that you had 
me on your side ! When I consented, Dunton, it was with the 
firm intention that this schooner and all on board should find a 
resting place at the bottom of Cape Cod bay if I found no 
other way out. You should thank God for the storm; it surely 
saved your lives! It was a case of one man against twenty- 
three and the one man had only his wits to depend on— but he 
won! One Yankee licked twenty-three Britishers! How will 
that news be. received on the "Spencer," Dunton? There, I have 
said enough for the present and I'm not going to gloat over 
your defeat." 

There was no answer from the beaten and humiliated 
Dunton. 

95 



CHAPTER XVI. 
Conclusion. 

The news of Hoppy Mayo's exploit caused intense excite- 
ment in Eastham and the neighboring towns. The Orleans militia 
company and the Brewster artillery hastened to the Eastham 
beach and assisted in guarding the captured British. The pris- 
oners were escorted to Crosby's tavern where they were hos- 
pitably entertained. The remainder of the cask of rum was 
brought ashore and it was welcomed by all those who liked a gill. 
At first, the British tars were bewildered in their strange sur- 
roundings when they recovered from the debauch of the morning, 
but they accepted the new conditions in the best possible spirit 
and were soon on the friendliest terms with their captors. Local 
tradition in Eastham has preserved the memory of that night of 
revelry at Crosby's when friend and foe clasped hands and 
clinked glasses as brothers. Phil the Fifer lilted his merriest 
notes and Peter Walker's ballads were sung and evoked en- 
thusiastic applause from all hands. 

Hoppy was hailed- as the hero of the hour. He bore his 
honors with great modesty and disclaimed any extraordinary 
merit for the part he had played. 

Win Knowles had not yet returned to Eastham and some 
were of opinion that there was something queer about his fail- 
ure to return to the ''Spencer," but .Hoppy strenuously main- 
tained that Win had acted wisely, as his chances of doing any 
good with the money were slight. Besides, he had told Win not 
to feel anxious about the matter. 

Hoppy gave a full account of his adventure to the Commit- 
tee of Safety. The worthy chairman warmly expressed the 
Committee's appreciation of their townsman's gallantry and re- 
sourcefulness, but he had grave doubts about Captain Kaggett's 
attitude when the news should reach him. lie would surely 



I II 8 1 2 1 I 

exact retribution for an act which humiliated the pride of King 
George's navy. 

It is no part of our present purpose to describe minutely 
the difficulties which followed the arrival of the "Spencer." 
"We feel that this story may fitly end with the triumph of 
Hoppy Mayo; but, for those who are unacquainted with the story 
of the Cape during the war of 1812, it may not be amiss to quote 
the Rev. Enoch Pratt, historian of Eastham: "The commander 
sent a barge, and demanded of the town twelve hundred dollars 
in specie, threatening that, if it was not paid in twenty-four 
hours, he would land with a force sufficient to burn, indiscrim- 
inately, the vessels, dwelling-houses and salt-works of the inhab- 
itants. ' ' 

After protracted negotiations, the reverend historian tells us, 
this was agreed to, and the British gave a written promise not 
to molest the town further during the war. 

There was much criticism of the Committee of Safety for 
this compliance with the British demand, but a majority of the 
people upheld the decision. Tribute was also paid by the town 
of Brewster, but the people of Orleans indignantly refused to 
capitulate and stubbornly and successfully resisted all attempts 
of the enemy to land on their shore. 

The end of the year 1814 saw the conclusion of hostilities 
on Cape Cod. The stout warrior, Old Dick Raggett, sailed 
away for England, and with him went that gallant and 
courteous officer, Herbert Fotheringay. 

After the war, Eastham greatly increased in prosperity. 
Uncle Jabez Rich soon succumbed to the infirmities of bis great 
age, but most of the worthy citizens mentioned in our story en- 
joyed the blessings of peace and plenty for many years and left 
sturdy descendants to perpetuate their names. Crosby's famous 
tavern no longer exists to afford the local gossips a meeting 
place; it is now a comfortable farmhouse, and the inquiring 
stranger can still be shown the apartment in which the captured 
British sailors held high revel with their Yankee captors. 

97 



OCT 2 1912 



. 



